Cloudy, but Clearing

Boulders on Tortugas, clouds over the Organs.

The steep slope of Tortugas with the Organ Mountains in the background.

Clouds brushing the jagged peaks of the Organs.

Boulders, bird, mountains.

This image has an Oriental painting quality.

Friday Morning

The sun was just beginning to touch this Yucca on the west side of Tortugas when we started out this morning.

Trusty pathfinder has gotten a tad off course here.

Plato's Packrat and Becca.

Ocotillo jungle.

Hills and dales.

Rocky Start

Rock formation on Tortugas's east face.

The figure (facing right) in the center rock might be a bird or a horse.

Tortugas under clouds.

Dark skies ahead.

The Organ Mountains lie in the southern reaches of the Rocky Mountain chain.

Crossing the Desert

One of the strenuous trails to the top of Tortugas.

The old observatory and a new tower atop the mountain.

Looking east along the trail through the foothills.

Ocotillo on Viagra.

Intersections.

Early Start

New Mexico morning sky.

Still blooming in early October.

The trail to nowhere.

Overcast over Tortugas.

Desert short stack--what you don't want to see in the environment.

Early Fall Hike

Interesting patterns of shadow and light on Tortugas Mountain's west face.

Clownish Yuccas and a low-lying layer of clouds in the Mesilla Valley.

Ocotillo leaves change colors before dropping from the buggy-whip arms.

Two Cactus Wrens (Heckle and Jeckle) messing around in a Yucca crown.

One of the Cactus Wrens taking flight.

Clouds

Clouds pressed down on the Organ Mountains this morning when Becca, Dr. K and I began our Sunday outing.

The sun broke through to spectacular effect.

A short while later the wind began to stir things up.

Suddenly, blue skies appeared above the mountains.

Just as quickly, a new batch of clouds blew through.