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| Hiking | 8.40 Miles |
3,000 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.40 Miles | | | |
| 3,000 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Decided to head over to Texas as I hadn't been there in 14 years. My last time was in November 1998, when I camped at Dog Canyon, also in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The main goal of the trip was to hike up Guadalupe Peak, the state high point at 8749 feet. I camped at Pine Spring Campground, which was almost full when I arrived Wednesday afternoon. There was a large group of folks from Baylor University on a geology field trip, and they snagged the group areas, as well as some of the single units. But I found one, which is good, since camping is limited in the park. My next option would have been to head for some BLM land in New Mexico south of Whites City, and I was very happy I didn't have to do that! (This is one of the reasons I don't like doing trips to well known destinations on weekends anymore).
I thoroughly enjoyed the hike and had great weather. This is a notoriously windy place, but I figured if I waited until a little later in the spring to attempt this it would be less windy. I also selected a time between storms to better my odds. Worked out perfectly.
It's a steady steep hike to the top on good trail. I made it up in about two and a half hours. Very comfortable on top with light wind for my lunch break. On my way back down I visited with the park superintendent, who was making his way up. He said when he transferred to this job a little over a year ago, he told his staff he was going to hike up the peak once a month. So far so good!
Got pretty warm by the time I finished, but I was coasting downhill so it didn't matter.
After the hike I drove down to a motel in Alpine near the Davis Mountains to continue my little Texas adventure. When I lived in Midland/Odessa for 3 plus years in the late 70s, I enjoyed occasional visits to the Davis Mountains and wanted to see them again. 
Note: based on a recent discussion on the HAZ forum about photo editing, just for fun, my photoset this time is posted as shot, unedited (except for downsizing). |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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The peak trail was fairly well manicured as to be expected for a National Park. Worst part of the day were the brutal winds, I had a consistent 40-50 mph headwind climbing uphill, and a few gusts to 70+. There was one point where I went around a corner and the wind was so strong that it actually stopped me and made me stagger to regain my balance...a little disconcerting to say the least. I did run into a few guys from Fort Worth (the 'cool' side of Dallas, as they said) who were heading up to the backcountry camp for an overnighter, at least I am not the only crazy one. I wished them well and kept on chugging. The switchbacks over the first mile and a half are pretty strenuous, but it levels out a bit from there. Pretty country, lots of conifers, Sotols, and Yuccas everywhere you look. Views up top are incredible, even if it is of fairly blank desert and salt flats. I must have been able to see for 60 or 70 miles at least, and it was a somewhat hazy day too. Definitely the coolest peak marker I have seen to date too. I signed in up top, took in the sights, and powered my way down the trail. Good stuff!
