Saturday Slide

At rest again

A lot of people were on the mountain today, getting in their morning exercise before the temperature soars.  That's what Becca and I were doing as we passed along the Tortugas Mountain foothills trail, then headed down to the loop road.  After treking north on the loop road for a mile, we hiked back into the foothills and made our way back to the Sunset Parking Area, where we parked our car.

Typical Chihuahuan Desert landscape

Mr. Lizaard is out in the yard

Mesquite Bean Eaters

Two Coyotes (Canis Latrans) visited the waterhole at the Chihuahuan Observation Center this morning, then stopped to feast on Mesquite beans.  The beans are quite a good source of protein for the omnivorous Coyote, but I wouldn't want to have to deal with the bowel-movement consequences of consuming all that fiber.  One of the animals was back at 1:00 p.m., an odd time of day for a Coyote.  She ate quite a few more beans before taking off up the arroyo.

A Hike on Provision Day

A somewhat abbreviated hike this morning because I had to shop for provisions for the Chihuahuan Observation Center.  We ran into two women hikers with a dog.  Becca was off lead, and she got a tad aggressive with the other hound; but she stopped when I gave her the "leave" command.  Still, I had to apologize to the women for my dog's misbehavior.

A trail up Tortugas Mountain



Becca on the foothills trail



A Yucca saddle on Tortugas's flank

After the 4th

Surveying the trail ahead

The first half of our hike was very pleasant:  plenty of clouds, a brisk wind.  Then the wind blew the clouds off, and the sun began to beat down.  Plus, the humidity was high--as it has been for the past few days.  Nevertheless, the long trek was a good one.


The Organ Mountains



The new observatory atop Tortugas Mountain



The trail around the mountain



Outer Loop road

Independence Day Hike

Rain clouds over Tortugas Mountain

There were natural fireworks last night as a thunderstorm rolled into the Mesilla Valley, bringing much-needed rain.  Dewpoints are high again today, and the promise of life-giving precipitation remains strong. Weatherwise, this has been a troubling year so far for much of the United States, with searing drought in the Southwest setting all-time records, hundreds of killer tornadoes in the Midwest, and devastating floods in the North and South. 

Faithful companion waits for us



Tortugas and the Organ Mountains



Across the flat plane of Chihuahuan Desert

Chihuahuan Desert scene

Desert flora finally got a good soaking last night

Tarantula Hawk

The Organ Mountains in the Chihuahuan Desert

Loads of people out and about the mountain on this 4th of July weekend.

The video is of a Tarantula Hawk (very large wasp), so called because it is one of the few natural predators of the Tarantula.  A Tarantula Hawk will sting the arachnid, paralyzing it, then lay its eggs on the underside of the spider.  It will drag the spider into its ground nest and leave it.  When the eggs hatch, the tiny wasps will feed off the Tarantula.  Nature red in tooth and claw.


On the road yet again



One of the many dirt roads near Tortugas Mountain



Break for shade



First of the Month Hike

Red Mesquite beans

Becca and I put some miles on our feet this morning, first hiking the loop trail around Tortugas and then doing some first-rate bushwhacking.  We followed some animal trails into the desert west of the mountain, descended into a large arroyo, then climbed back out onto a low mesa.  The entire trek consumed a couple of worthwhile hours.  It was hot out there, but a strong breeze ameliorated the heat.

The intrepid hiker

Tortugas and the distant Organs



Hedgehog Cactus



Hedgehog Cactus and Tortugas Mountain

Tortugas (left) and the Organ Mountains