This desert tortoise came out of its burrow to allow me this photo-op.  Geologically, deserts are “new” in epochs of time.  When we explore and rockhound, we are careful to give the tortoise only looks and lots of space.   This tortoise is “Mojave Max” who lives at Red Rock Conservation Area, west of Las Vegas.  Max is twenty years old and appeared from brumation (reptile form of hibernation) early this year due to unseasonably warm weather, in early March.  When visiting “sin city” be sure to make Red Rock a day trip on the side and say hello to Max.

A fun day in the desert this week.  Today is the opening of the show, here in Boulder City, Nevada.