Higher Humidity

This and the next:  Mormon Tea flowers

Becca and I were on the trail west of Tortugas Mountain just after 7 this morning, but it already felt hot out there due to elevated humidity.  I think our chances of rain over the next few days have gone up dramatically.

Surprisingly there were a lot or outdoor enthusiasts around the mountain, and we ran into one right off--a woman who was finishing her hike.  After a minor bushwhacking adventure into a sandy area west of Tortugas, Becca and I headed back.  On the way in we ran into three hikers with a dog.  I put Becca on lead, although I think she'd have been fine off because the other canine seemed very friendly.

We had a nice, fairly long hike despite the humidity, but I think our evaporative cooler here at home will be put to use much earlier today than it was yesterday.

A happy hiker

Whitethorn Acacia

Happy Hiker on break

Base of a gnarly old Ocotillo

White-winged Dove

Soaptree Yuccas

Harey the Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Giving me the cold shoulder

LOL!

This and the next 3:  the same Soaptree Yucca

Desert Marigold

This and the next:  same Soaptree Yucca

Leaning flower stalk of a Soaptree Yucca

Same Soaptree with leaning flower stalk

Thursday Trekking

Littleleaf Palo Verde

Becca and I got a later start this morning because I got caught up watching "Breaking News" on CNN--our idiot president ranting for 17 1/2 minutes, lying his ass off as usual.  I won't do that again.

There were quite a few cars parked out where we leave Whitey the CR-V, but we only encountered one mountain biker--a young woman--on our outbound leg.  On the way in, however, we bumped into a bunch of hikers, and I was puzzled about how crowded the area seemed for a Thursday morning.  Nevertheless, the Beckster and I had a very nice hike today, most of it on the west side of Tortugas Mountain here in our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

Tree Cholla

This and the next 3:  Klein's Pencil Cholla (Cylindropuntia Kleiniae)

Western foothills of Tortugas Mountain

Coming up the hill

Am I there yet?

Becca leading the way

Cactus Wren

Soaptree yucca

Becca on break

Ocotillo

Inside the above Ocotillo looking up

This and the next 2:  Mockingbird

This and the next 3:  Soaptree Yuccas

I think this is a juvenile Cactus Wren, but I'm not sure

Looks less like a Cactus Wren here

Ocotillo buds

Ocotillo with leaves

Cow Tongue Prickly Pear

Two similar images, this one with "Dry Brush" filter applied

On Geothermal Road near Tortugas Mountain

Soaptree Yuccas