Big To-Do on the Mountain

Away from the mountain

The parking lot at the Sunset Area was already packed when Becca and I got out there this morning.  After a long hike--during which I realized I wasn't properly dressed for the cold--we returned to find the entire west side of the mountain completely overrun by people and cars.  My guess is that it was a high-school celebration because I could hear cheerleaders cheering atop Tortugas, and there were a lot of teenage voices emanating from within the ramada. 

Looking back

The road in

Desert Marigolds still blooming everywhere

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Overflow parking (our car beneath the red dot)

On a Friday

Heading away from Tortugas

More bushwhacking for the Beckster and me this morning as we headed out west into the outback, always keeping our eyes peeled for wild critters, especially coyotes.  We saw none.  Even though we had our first freeze early (32 F) it didn't seem as cold as yesterday, perhaps due to the absence of wind.  We put quite a few miles on our paws before leaving for home.  I made a slight detour on the way--over to Celebrate to buy a six-pack of Dale's Pale Ale.

In a large arroyo west of the mountain

Photobomb

Headed west

This way through a sandy arroyo bottom

Miles from the starting point

Deer Apples

The rugged Organ Mountains

Getting out there

Soaptree Yuccas

Soaptree Yucca

Soaptree Yucca family:  adults and little ones

Hedgehog Cactus

Almost back

Bushwhack Deluxe

Way out west

Becca and I did an especially-long trek this morning, bushwhacking most of the way.  Again we were on coyote watch, and we did happen to get a glimpse of one making tracks away from us.  The weather was perfect for bushwhacking:  chilly and breezy.  Cold weather makes rattlesnakes gather together for brumation, which is a dormant state similar to hibernation, and that makes us more confident about hiking in the middle of nowhere.  Plus, if you want a few hours of solitude, there's no better place to find it than in the middle of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

Long way to go

Getting started

Abundant flora

Bushwhacking across the desert

Barrel Cactus and Soaptree Yucca

Hedgehog Cactus

Out in the outback

On coyote watch

Small mesquite tree in the middle of a wash

Ocotillo chorus line

The rugged Organs, part of the Rocky Mountain chain

Changeover Day

Getting ahead

After Becca and I did a semi-long hike west of Tortugas Mountain I had to get up on the roof of the hacienda to shut down the evaporative cooler.  Disconnected the water line, removed the fan belt, unplugged the plugs to the water pump and cooler fan, then drained the reservoir.  Next up:  fire up the furnace.  We have a 30 degree Fahrenheit night looming just ahead, and we'll want to be able to turn up the heat to take the chill out of the house the following morning.

Pause in the shadows

One yucca . . .

. . . or two?

On the Cross Cut Trail

Ocotillos still leafed out

Heading back in

Pepper Becker

When Becca and I had just started our hike this morning Jimmy was driving up to the parking lot.  He called out the passenger window:  "Maybe I'll see you on the other side."  He was going to hike up over the mountain and come down on the road.  We did, indeed, link up with him, as we also did with Courtney (girls softball coach at Centennial High) and her dog, Pepper.  Whenever I say hello to Pepper I'm reminded of one of my favorite episodes of the sitcom "Becker," starring Ted Danson, when, pressed to come up with a name for his imaginary sister while having dinner with a woman at a restaurant, he looks at the pepper shaker and says, "Pepper--Pepper Becker."  You have to see the episode for full effect.  By the way, why hasn't "Becker" been syndicated on Netflix or another streaming service?

Wupatki

No regular blog post today because I spent an hour-and-a-half in the dentist's chair this morning having work done for a three-tooth bridge.  Becca was fortunate that Dr. K could take her on a long trek.

Since I've just begun the tedious process of converting hundreds of my slides (I have thousands) to digital images, I thought I'd upload my first effort here:  an image I took of ruins at Wupatki National Monument in northern Arizona yeas ago.  Dr. K and I were living in Prescott then, and I was teaching at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  My recollection is that the pueblo buildings at Wupatki were built by the Sinaqua people, who experienced a boon in agricultural after the eruption of Sunset Crater (circa 1065 A.D.)  The lava pumice created ideal conditions for growing crops.  We visited Wupatki National Monument plenty of times to revel in the beauty of the high desert and to soak up the cultural history of the area as presented in the visitor center.  I even wrote a short story--"Have You Seen Me?"--about a woman forest ranger stationed there.

Typical Sunday Hike

Behind the Tortoise

Dr. K, Becca and I did what we generally do on a Sunday morning:  a long trek around Tortugas Mountain.  The weather was extremely pleasant, though chilly at the start--about 45 degrees Fahrenheit.  Nevertheless, the nearly omnipresent desert sun kept us warm and, midway through our hike, forced us to removed our windbreakers.  There were quite a few other outdoor enthusiasts this morning, and when we returned to the Monte Vista Parking lot there were Search and Rescue people exercising their dogs in the nearby desert.  One of them waved to me, obviously impressed by Becca's obedient behavior.  Well, at least that's what I wanted to believe.:)

We've come a long way around the mountain

Becca needs a break

In the shadow of a Torrey Yucca

Becca and Dr. K

Heading back

Another break

Setting moon

Closer look

Balancing on a Sotol stalk