Sunset Side Sunday

Devil's Head Cactus (aka Blue Barrel, Echinocactus horizonthalonius)

Dr. K and I did a long hike west of Tortugas Mountain this morning that included a good deal of bushwhacking; indeed, probably two-thirds of the trek was off trail.  About halfway through our outing we kicked up an owl and, later, while standing on a ridge we watched a mama Javelina and her youngster bolt away when they spotted us; those buggers move pretty fast on their small legs.

On the way back in we crossed paths with a young woman jogging with her two dogs, friendly pups who stopped to greet us, the brown one licking my fingers when I petted it--made me miss having a dog, who are among the finest creatures on earth.

The Sunset Area was slightly crowded when we got there, but not nearly as packed as if could have been for a Sunday morning in mid-December, with a high temperature slated to be 65F.

Looking southwest to the Potrillos Mountains

Bushwhacking through here

Soaptree Yuccas in a small arroyo west of the mountain

Footloose and fancy free

Small alien we turned up while bushwhacking

Looking west

Tortugas and the Organs

From a ridge near here we watched a mama Javelina and her baby scoot away

Cloud

Wispy clouds

This and the next:  Soaptree Yuccas

Dr. K beside a tall Torrey Yucca

Me next to the same yucca

Said Torrey Yucca

Headed up an arroyo back toward Tortugas Mountain