These were the Capitan Mountains just west of Lincoln.

The sun-tinged clouds were dramatic.

Here's another look at the Capitan Mountains.

Off to the southwest, I saw a range of mountains with snow on top. The highest of these was Sierra Blanca, which appropriately means White Mountain.

US 380 offered one fantastic mountain view after another.

My last stop before Capitan was Smokey Bear Vista.

The vista included a series of interpretive signs about Smokey Bear and forest fire prevention. Smokey was found as a badly burned cub near the Capitan Gap.

Several thousand feet lower in elevation, the Capitan Gap was a prominent break in the Capitan Mountain range.