Welcome Relief

The desert itself

Becca and I started off fairly early on our morning trek, and the weather was a welcome relief from yesterday; whereas yesterday it was 81F with hot wind and humidity, today was 69F with a cool breeze.  That made a world of difference for a mid-July hike in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

The Sunset Area of the mountain was very crowded when we got there, and within a quarter mile of starting off we ran into eight young women who were finishing their hike--all very pleasant young people who greeted us warmly.  And then, after we'd gone about half a mile, we noticed a large group of hikers coming down one of the steepest trails on the west side of the mountain.  There was no avoiding it, we were going to cross paths where the trail we were on intersects with the one they were on.

It soon became apparent that the group was comprised of 18-to-20 young woman--perhaps newly affiliated with our local university--and they were going to file past us while Becca lay in the "down" position at the side of the trail.  I said to the first young woman as she approached, "Talk about a line of traffic."  And she said, amused, "I know--isn't it the truth?"  And then--kid you not--each of the women either commented on, cooed about, or smiled brightly at Becca.  What a way to start a hike!

Expensive homes across town

Break time!

Friend and flower

We'll see something interesting about Ocotillos later

Anybody want to hazard a guess about which Hummingbird?

It is written

Not to bee

There's a bee in there

Crap nature photography

A bit better

Looks to be a male Valley Carpenter Bee

She hasn't moved except to turn her head

See?

Can you make out the Roadrunner in the Mesquite Tree?

Roll out the barrel

Seems a bit early for Barrel Cactus buds, but maybe not

3 views of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

#2

#3

Definitely too early for Ocotillo leaves to turn yellow

Tall Ocotillo west of the mountain