Hooking Around the Mountain

Sun breaking over the mountain

Becca and I took an extra long hike this morning, starting at the Sunset Parking area, trekking alongside Tortugas's western slope, curving around the mountain on the outer loop road about a quarter way back.  Then we retraced our steps.  The only person we saw was the guy I call Mr. Tacoma. I know his real name now; learned it from my friend, Jimmy.  Mr. Tacoma is a retired geology professor who hikes frequently on Tortugas Mountain.  Beautiful weather made our hike a real pleasure today.  

Sunlight highlights a Strawberry Pitaya Cactus

Heading behind the mountain

Where Tortugas seems to intersect with the Organ Mountains

A Barrel Cactus seems to have sprouted a Prickly Pear pad

The rugged Organ Mountain

Looking back at the way we came

Becca seems to be looking for the owner of this truck, Mr. Toyota

The vast stretch of desert behind the mountain

When There Are No Footprints . . .

Entering an arroyo from the Crosscut Trail

 . . . in an arroyo you feel as if you're the first to explore there, even though you know others have been here before.

Becca and I did a long hike on the west side of the mountain, taking the Crosscut Trail to where it crosses a large arroyo that originates high on the mountain.  We followed the arroyo bed west to where it intersects with the road that strikes all the way across the desert to Tellbrook Road--where Becca and i did an afternoon hike several days ago.

Looking back at Tortugas

Soaptree Yuccas growing in the middle of the arroyo

Canine explorer

Tortugas and the Organs

It will be a while until these Ocotillos begin leafing out

Crown Me

Tortugas Mountain (left) and the Organ Mountains

I had to cut this morning's hike a little short so I could get to the dentist by 10:30.  I had to have a tooth crowned.  Yipee!

The first two photos here were taken yesterday when Becca and I went for a brief afternoon hike--something she's always lobbying for.  If I had scads of money I'd buy some land out in this section of the desert and build a modest "green" home here.

Tortugas Mountain from the far southwest

Enjoying an afternoon hike

On the high foothills trail this morning

Feeling Guilty Talking "Chilly"

Bushwhacking danger:  mistaking foreground cactus for grass (rear)

My cousin in Kentucky and family and friends back east would criticize me soundly if they heard me complaining that it was chilly this morning (low 40s), and it's supposed to be even chiller tomorrow morning (39 F).  The East, Midwest and South of the United States are yet again being blasted by a fierce winter storm.  Saw on the news that there was a 40-car pileup in Oklahoma because of ice-rink conditions on the roadways.  This has got to be one of the worst winters ever for the folks back there.

Heavy overcast

Waiting for pokey (me)

No sunny hike

Becca spots two hikers and their dog

A still-damp arroyo

Dynamic Sunday

Starting out west of Tortugas

At 3:15 a.m. it started raining, and it came down for several hours straight.  Everything was wet when I took Becca out into the yard this morning.  Things were still wet when Dr. K, Becca and I set off for the mountain and, at times, it looked as if rain was imminent again.  A pretty strong wind kept sweeping the rain clouds away, though, and the conditions were perfect for some interesting photography.  We did an extra long trek today, putting quite a few miles on our paws.

Ominous sky over the Organ Mountains

Small pool of muddy water

That's Bishop's Cap on the horizon

Constant wind swept threatening clouds away

Husband and wife

A view from far west of Tortugas Mountain

The start of the bushwhacking portion of the hike

Tortugas from even further west

I'm 5' 11"

Chihuahuan Desert vista

It's March: Here Comes the Wind

The trail to the ramada at the Sunset Parking area

It was an extraordinarily pleasant morning when Becca and  I hit the trail west of Tortugas Mountain.  It was also very crowded out there, though we only ran into one mountain biker and one jogger.  Now--just less than an hour from our return--the wind has picked up.  We have a slight chance of rain today and tomorrow from the tail end of the storm that's battering California now.  Bad news for our friends in the Midwest and East:  this storm is going to track across country and deliver more unpleasant weather for the winter-fatigued there.

Tortugas's northwestern slope

Torrey Yucca leaning toward the western sky

Becca hears people coming down the mountain

Road heading west

Hilly desert land

Becca crossing the Crosscut Trail

The Tortoise from the west

Lenticular clouds over the Organ Mountains mean high winds aloft