Birthday Hike

For his birthday hike, Tony chose a trail behind the science museum to walk among the murder plants that grow on the slopes of the Sacramento Mountains east of town. This is a trail that is clearly marked for the first half mile, then not so much after that. We had a map on CalTopo to follow, but would get off trail sometimes. Stepping over murder plants can be heinous on the legs. I even had a mesquite branch stuck in the side of my boots for a bit. Thank goodness for thick soles!

The views of the city and the Tularosa Basin are amazing from these slopes to the east!

Sample Murder Plants

The Christmas Cholla are striking cacti that have red fruits this time of year to make their name most fitting. Common plants on these slopes are mesquite, yucca, sotol, prickly pear and creosote, most of which have wicked thorns or sharp edges.