Geothermal Redux

This and the next 2:  exploring a wide arroyo

Before Dr. K had to head down to UTEP to teach today, she accompanied Willow, Frio and me on a moderately long trek just off Geothermal Road.  We did some minor bushwhacking this morning, which resulted in a few interesting images.

If there was anybody else west of Tortugas Mountain while we were there we didn't see them, bumping into no one coming or going.  There weren't even any other vehicles in the small lot next to the road's western barriers when we got back to Whitey the CR-V.

Not that we're antisocial, but both Dr. K and I prefer not to encounter others--neither human nor canine--but we suspect the Heelers would like to see a dog or two, not to mention the chance of running into some denizens of the desert.

White-winged Dove

An even wider section of arroyo

Chihuahuan Desert flora

Can you tell from the profile silhouette which bird it is?

It's a Pyrrhuloxia--aka "Desert Cardinal"

Dr. K and the Heelers

Something you don't see often:  a toppled Ocotillo

Not an octopus, but a toppled Ocotillo

This and the next:  Barrel Cacti

Torrey Yuccas

Same large Torrey Yucca west of Tortugas Mountain

This and the next:  same scene, different magnification

Old yucca trunk, new yucca crowns

Soaptree Yuccas