The Things You See

From a distance we saw this guy riding a recumbent bike

As we were headed around Tortugas Mountain early this morning, Dr. K, Becca and I spotted a guy on a recumbent bike driving along a dirt road below.  After we did a moderately-long hike west of the mountain we ran into the biker on our return trip.  I asked if he minded me taking a photo of him on his ride because I had never seen a recumbent mountain bike.  We chatted with him for a brief time while Becca examined the bike suspiciously.  The man laughed, saying, "Dogs don't generally know what to make of this contraption."  I asked if it was a regular recumbent bike adapted for desert conditions, but he said it wasn't; he had actually ordered the bike from England because he thought it would be perfect for riding in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.  Dr. K and I were impressed by the vehicle, but Becca forgot all about it as soon as she found a new bush to smell.

Devil's Head (aka "Horse Crippler")

View from behind Tortugas Mountain

Looking upslope

Rocky territory

Becca and Dr. K at the rock shelter

Across the desert to the Organ Mountains

The rock shelter is in shadow at the deep cut

Ocotillos grow all over the southern slope

Becca and Packrat behind the mountain

Distant view of Tortugas Mountain from the west

On the way back we ran into the recumbent biker

Turns out he's a recumbent mountain biker

Super-Packed Saturday

Two uncooperative male Scott's Orioles never emerged from a Creosote Bush

Becca and I and a woman hiker coming down from the Sunset Area parking lot converged at the main trail.  She said, "This place is getting really popular.  It's hard to find a parking spot."  It was surprisingly crowded this morning, and even more so when we returned.  On our way back up the mountain from the outback Becca and I spotted Jimmy and his brother-in-law, Scott, who waved to us from on high.  I had the feeling that rather than trekking to the mountaintop they were setting out to circumnavigate Tortugas.

Ocotillos in the sun

Gaining in elevation

One happy hiker despite the heat

Ancient sardine tin?

In the upper foothills just west of Tortugas

View from on high

Looking through an Ocotillo

The long view

Back toward the sun

A different male Scott's Oriole

I could only sneak up so close to it . . .

. . . before it flew away

Never sit on a Hedgehog Cactus

Scott and Jimmy hiking the high foothills

Scott (left) is not the owner of the Scott's Oriole

On the slope

My shadow and Becca in the shadow of a Torrey Yucca

About to head back to Tortugas Mountain

Sprinkled On

Century Plant in a nearby neighborhood (full-size pine trees below)

Becca and I pulled into the parking area on the west side of Tortugas at 7 a.m., just as our buddy Gregg was getting out of his car.  He usually starts his hike much later, so I said, "What are you doing here so early?"  He pointed south to the overcast sky and said, "Rain is heading our way in a few hours."  He wanted to get his trek in before getting wet.  He, Becca and I hiked a mile or so of the first leg together before parting company.  Since Becca and I were in the outback for several hours we did manage to get rained upon during the last leg of our trek, but the precipitation came down as only a light sprinkle so we didn't mind.  In fact, it felt quite refreshing to get sprinkled on during the summer in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

Large plates of flowers for insects and birds

Headed up toward a threatening sky

Heavy overcast

Mockingbird mocking us from a Torrey Yucca

Sunshine Lane

A little brighter on the far horizon

Organ Mountains

Road around Tortugas

Up a soon-to-be-damp arroyo

A bit more dynamic

Same Ocotillo, different perspective

Ocotillos in the hills west of the mountains

Graceful Buggy Whip wands

Digging the desert

Top view of a Barrel Cactus

Closing in again

I'm guessing juvenile Bullock's Oriole

Young Bullock's Oriole

Fruit of the Red Yucca in our yard