Long Hike in Humid Weather

Starting up

Even though it was cooler when Becca and I headed out to Tortugas Mountain this morning the humidity was really high; you know it's true when you're perspiring even though the sun is blocked by substantial cloud cover.  We ran into two hikers with a dog not long after starting off and about ten cross-country runners from Mayfield High School about a quarter way into our trek.  Although it didn't rain yesterday, and we're not supposed to get any precipitation today, the humidity level is high due to the monsoonal flow of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.

Partially blue sky

Could be a Painted Lady

New leaves on an old Ocotillo

Lots of moisture in the atmosphere

Bicolor Fanmustard

Nipple Beehive Cactus buds

Closeup of a Nipple Beehive bud

A little more blue over the Organ Mountains

After the rain Ocotillos are blooming again

Ocotillo flowers seem even brighter than usual

Closeup of the bloosom

Desert Marigold

Senna has literally popped up everywhere after the rains

Unicorn Plant (aka "Devil's Claw")

The "claw" of Devil's Claw

Rough Menodora (Menodora Scabra)

Ocotillo branch turning back on itself

Checking out what's ahead

Promising to be sunny later

A mess of Mesquite beans

Almost back to the car

Velvety Nerisyrenia

Post Storm Trek

Night-blooming Cereus

It rained hard yesterday evening and through most of the night, and it was still raining this morning.  Until just before 7 a.m. it looked as though Becca and I might not be able to get our hike in.  Then the rain stopped, and we headed straight out to Tortugas Mountain.  Surprisingly we were able to do a 90-minute trek without getting wet.  There was only one other vehicle when we started off and only three when we finished up.  Most people were undoubtedly scared off by the prospect of another downpour.  It's fairly likely we'll get blasted again later today.

All during the hike it looked as if it would rain again

The desert is very wet

Symbiosis

Bicolor Fanmustard (Velvety nerisyrenia)

Bicolor Fanmustard

Small Barrel Cactus with buds

Closer look at the flower buds

Pals:  an Ocotillo and a Devil's Head

Enjoying the cool overcast, but oh is it ever humid

New growth on an Ocotillo wand

A thoroughly saturated desert

Water flowed hard everywhere

Desert Unicorn Plant (Proboscidea althaeifolia)

The Desert Unicorn Plant is also known as "Devil's Claw"

Wooly Paperflower

Dayflower (Commelina erecta)

Dayflower

Dayflower

Take my word, the desert floor is soaked

Clouds hanging over the Organ Mountains

Ocotillo and Organs

Nipple Beehive Cactus with buds

Desert Marigold

A muddy arroyo

Looking toward the mountains from the arroyo

Evidence of yesterday's downpour

More Nipple Beehive buds

A larger Barrel loaded with buds

Desert Zinnia (Zinnia acerosa)

Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum)

Our Texas Ranger

Closeup of the Texas Ranger flowers (Leucophyllum frutescens)