Lengthy Monday Trek

Blackfoot Daisies

I took an extra-long hike with the Heelers this morning filled with lots of bushwhacking and dirt road hiking; along the way we saw many splendid sights.  There were plenty of scents, too, and, apparently, Frio and Willow appreciated them more than me.

We only saw one other outdoor enthusiast today, a guy running up the west side trail that leads to the upper foothills of Tortugas Mountain.  The Heelers and I started up that path, but turned around about two-thirds of the way up because the Hedgehog Cacti I hoped were starting to bloom were not.

We put many miles on our feet and paws this morning, and any normal dog would have been petered out by the time we got back; but not the Heelers--especially Frio--the latter Heeler zipping around the house as if he hadn't been outside in weeks.

This and the next:  Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

There's a good-size Barrel Cactus in this image

Here's that Barrel Cactus

The arroyo we're trekking through

This and the next:  Soaptree Yuccas in the arroyo

Looking back at the way we just came

Tortugas Mountain and the Organs

At center:  the arroyo we came up

Creosote Bush

Sure looks like a Strawberry Hedgehog about to bloom

This and the next 2:  same Scott's Oriole

This and the next 5:  Ocotillos with buds and blossoms

Willow and Frio on break

An ancient Ocotillo:  one of my favorite old friends

This and the next:  yellowing leaves of Desert Rhubarb

Near the Ocotillo forest

Pincushion

Soaptree Yuccas putting up flower stalks

This and the next:  same Ocotillo blossom

Ocotillo and the mountains