Pilgrims' Progress

Mile-long line of pilgrims' cars

Because the Sunset Parking area was overflowing this morning due to the annual pilgrimage to the top of Tortugas Mountain, Becca and I went to the east side of the Tortoise.  We hiked about two-thirds of the way around the mountain before turning back.   On the way we met JC and hiked with him for about half an hour.  It was a very pleasant day in the desert, though still quite humid.

Black-throated Sparrow

Large mound of Strawberry Pitaya Cactus

Pilgrims heading for the shrine on Tortugas Mountain

Small forest of Torrey Yuccas

Is that Superman on the mount?

The Desert After Rain

Puddle in a boulder

We got several hours worth of rain beginning early evening last night.  The storm left a significant amount of moisture in the air, and this morning it was readily apparent.  Although it felt slightly cool at the start, I had to remove my jacket and hike in a short-sleeve shirt after one particularly strenuous climb.  When Becca and I came upon JC he had his vest unzipped and was commenting on the high humidity.  The ten Porta Potties pictured here are in preparation for the annual Our Lady of Guadalupe pilgrimage to the top of Tortugas Mountain tomorrow at sunrise.

Getting ready for the Tortugas Mountain pilgrimage

Becca on a bathroom break

Scratch that itch

Humidity haze

Lots of moisture in the air

Heading back toward Tortugas before looping away again

Rugged desert floor

Further west of the Tortoise

Time to cross through an arroyo

Same arroyo, opposite direction

Closing in on Tortugas

Errand Tuesday

Trekking through the high foothills

Without the sun shining brightly in a blue sky it was quite chilly when we started off this morning.  It hadn't warmed up much through three-fourths of our hike when we bumped into JC; we all walked back to the trailhead together.  On Tuesdays I always cut our outing a little short in order to do the weekly grocery shopping and other chores, from which I derive such pleasure.  At the vet yesterday Dr. Thompson gave Becca an oral antibiotic, an antibiotic ointment and some Valium, the latter to calm her down when she has to wear the Elizabethan collar to keep from licking her wound.

Chances of rain look pretty good

The edge of the Tortoise (left)

The start of something big?

Catching a scent

Overcast desert day

Single-track back

Waiting for a pokey human

Organ Mountains between leafless buggy whips

Cutting It Short

I cut the hike short this morning so I could get home and call the vet about getting Becca in for a visit.  I took her there last Wednesday for treatment of a hot spot on her left ankle that developed after she got a slight cut there.  She has aggravated the wound enough that I have to take her in again.  She does horribly with the protective plastic-cone collar dogs wear to prevent excessive licking, and my attempts to bandage the wound haven't panned out.  Time for another professional treatment.

I like how the dark center seems embedded in lighter-colored rock

Becca's bandaged left leg ankle

Far Side Sunday

Beautiful early-morning hues

Dr. K, Becca and I spent a beautiful Sunday morning hiking around Tortugas Mountain; well, actually, we started from the Monte Vista parking area in the east, circled two-thirds of the way around the Tortoise before heading back.  We had three encounters with mountain bikers, one with the two guys pictured below and two with the same woman biker--once when we were starting off and once when we were nearly finished with out trek.  Everybody seemed to be enjoying the pleasant weather very much.

Back behind the mountain

Nearly at the spot where the trail bends right

Looking east toward the Organs

Spotting mountain bikers

West of Tortugas

Two mountain bikers whose path we crossed

Heading back behind the mountain again

Almost back to the car