Solitude in Soledad Canyon

Starting into the canyon

Dr. K, Becca and I headed into Soledad Canyon early this morning, and we did a nearly two-hour hike before running into other outdoor enthusiasts.  Most of them were headed up the trail as we were headed out.  It was a beautiful, sunny day, and we three took full advantage of it.  Becca was in her usual I-love-hiking mood as she smelled what seemed like every other plant and bush in the entire canyon.  Soledad offers some spectacular scenery, and I took as many photos as necessary--143 to be precise.  Fortunately, Dr. K is a very patient person, and she lets me indulge my hobby without criticism.  She says the frequent stops give her more time to thoroughly enjoy the desert.

Heading up a steep incline

Deeper into rugged territory

Fendler's Penstemon

Cold-canyon Phlox?

Feather Dalea

No tree ID

I'm going with Cold-canyon Phlox (Phlox stansburyi)

Even deeper into the canyon

Climbing out of an arroyo to higher ground

Hitting the high trail

Sotols growing all over the mountain

The happiest hiker in Soledad Canyon

Sotols with one and two stalks

Rugged highlands

Just about to start down again

Rose-Heath

At the center is Tortugas Mountain (4,931 feet), where Becca and I hike daily

A forest of Sotol growing on the steep slope

Heading into low country

Casita Grande

Sotol and Juniper on the mountain's flank

At the base of the vertical rock (center) is a waterfall

Homesteader's rock ruins

More of the ruins have collapsed since last we were here

A look back

High desert grassland (there was a huge fire here years ago)

Tufted Globe-amaranth

This and the others:  Mexican Gold Poppy

Through a sea of yellow grass

Headed for the far shore

Indian Paintbrush

A giant Sotol

Interesting rock formation near the trailhead

Windmill in bad need of repair

Surprisingly Frosty Morn

There's a dog behind that frostbitten windshield

It was 27F when Becca and I headed out this morning, and I was surprised to find enough ice on the RAV4's windshield to require scraping.  Fortunately, in the sunshine out on the mountain, the conditions were quite bearable, primarily because there was no wind to create a windchill.  There were a lot of red plastic route markers tied to Creosote Bushes on the trail around the mountain, and it was obvious there's to be a run later today or tomorrow.  I hope that whoever is responsible for the route markers is also responsible for taking them down after the event.

Ballooning in the desert

Ratany

Narrow trail

The lead scout

Mormon Tea flower

White-winged Dove in an Ocotillo

Wild Rhubarb seems to love sandy soil

It's a long way from here to the Organ Mountains

What?

Tortugas Mountain

Claret Cups and bud

Where to find water in the desert

A fairly large Mesquite Tree in an arroyo west of the mountain

Becca Meets Several Pals

A very early start

Becca and I got a really early start on our morning hike, and about half way through we ran into Courtney and her dog, Pepper.  Becca and Pepper played for a while before we all parted company.  Later, when we had nearly reached our car at the trailhead, we ran into our buddy Jimmy.  Becca is always happy to see Jimmy because he knows how to scratch dog ears properly.  He and I talked for a few minutes before we headed in opposite directions.  He was just starting his trek, headed, perhaps for the mountaintop.

Moseying down the single-track

On the slope of Tortugas

A huge, old Torrey Yucca

Looking over her own shoulder

I keep waiting for this Nipple Beehive Cactus to blossom

This and the following:  Scott's Oriole

Pretty bird

Your eyes aren't deceiving you, it's more Spectacle Pod

Becca spots a man and woman hiking with their German Shepherd

These clouds look somewhat ominous, but they weren't

Desert Marigold and Claret Cups

Spectacle Pod:  a good-looking plant

Pepper is happy to see me

Then she sees Becca crouching in a bush

Eskimo greeting

Becca wants to play more than Pepper does

A yucca still in bloom

A full head of flowers

Closeup of one of the beauties

Blue and off-white

Desert garden

Robledo Mountains and part of Las Cruces, New Mexico

Desert Cottontail eating a flower