Two in a Row

The trail in the distance leads to the loop trail around the mountain

Becca and I had to go around to the far side of the mountain again this morning because the Sunset Area side was crowded again; I learned that yesterday's activity had to do with Centennial High School students climbing the mountain.

We ran into Raymond and a pleasant young woman named Laurie who were hiking east on the loop trail, and we hiked along with them a short while before parting ways.  Becca and I took the upper loop to where it intersects with the single-track down to the lower desert, which we followed after a water break.  Within a short distance we stopped for a shade break even though it wasn't extremely sunny.

Clouds made the light quite dynamic this morning and I took a lot of photos, many of the same landscape features; I did my best to pick those images most representative of our early trek.

Behind the mountain now

Las tunas

Sotols behind the mountain

Leading the way across the plateau

This and the next 2:  Torrey Yuccas

Loggerhead Shrike (computer enhanced)

More yuccas

A look at part of Tortugas Mountain from the east

Meh

A more distant look at Tortugas from the east

Fishhook Barrel Cactus

Heading back on the trail southeast of the mountain

House and Organ Mountains

Way back to the loop trail

Sky

This and the next:  several views of Tortugas from the east

Two view of Tortugas's north side

#2