Geothermal or Bust

Heavy overcast this morning

We drove over to Geothermal on a cloudy morning to do a different hike.  We were the first vehicle to park at the trailhead.  We trekked up the dirt road toward Tortugas Mountain, cutting southward into the desert just beyond the major intersection with another dirt road.

We got in a decently long, though frustrating hike, today; I say "frustrating" because both Frio and Willow--but especially the latter--were nearly uncontrollable.  Although we've hiked in the area many times in the past we hadn't been there for quite a spell, and both dogs acted like they were on a free shopping spree in a Pup-Peroni factory.

Our CR-V was still the only vehicle in the parking lot as we approached, but another small SUV pulled up behind us just as we reached ours.  Fortunately, the people inside seemed to be waiting for others to arrive and didn't get out until we had passed by.

This and the next:  Soaptree and distant Torrey Yuccas

Octopus Soaptree

Looks like rain, but little chance

Organ Mountains

Tortugas (left) and the Organs

Sky to the west

City of Las Cruces

This and the next 4:  unusual clouds

Somebody's palm tree

Immovable feast