Guadalupe Peak
| Texas |
Elevation: 8,749'
Vertical Gain: 2,950'
Vertical Gain: 2,950'
Date: July 2, 2012
Time: 8:10 AM
Time: 8:10 AM
Weather: Fair
Party: Bob, Kevin
Party: Bob, Kevin
This trip to western Texas began the previous day in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. There, Kevin
and I visited Billy the Kid's grave but skipped the museum. Then it was on to Roswell where a
friendly and talkative woman greeted us at the visitor center. We went to the museum next
door and wondered where all the alien stuff was. It turned out that we were at the art museum
so after a lunch at Denny's we found the real alien museum which made "believers" out of us.
Well at least we met some very passionate believers including authors of alien encounter
books and those who were describing their alien abduction experience. We managed to be in
Roswell during convention week but unfortunately missed the parade by a day.
Next, it was on to Carlsbad Caverns. (On the way I very nearly hit a huge vulture.) It was
amazing how big the caverns are. We hiked down the 750' but we were force to take the
elevator back since it was too late to hike back up. It was still more than a two mile hike. After
enjoying nachos and quesadillas by the gift shop we made the 50 minute drive to Pine Springs
Campground. This was a very nice, scenic, and cooler spot at the base of the mountains.
We awoke to a beautiful morning and as I exited the tent I was startled by a deer running
through our site. Our hike started from the campground at 6:10 and once again we made good
time despite some steep sections with numerous switchbacks. I enjoyed the views on this
one which were greener than on the drive here. The clear weather with a high of 84 degrees
made it that much nicer. We did not see other hikers on the two hour hike up and had the peak
to ourselves where we stayed for 35 minutes. We passed about a dozen hikers heading up as
we hiked down. The hike down was naturally faster (1:35) and we finished at 10:20. This was
a 2.3 mph pace for the 8.4 mile round trip hike and again well below the 6 - 8 hour estimate
given in the guide books.
The rest of the day was spent driving back up through Roswell and to a tiny campground at
the Taos Ski Area near the base of Wheeler Peak. It was a cool 68 degrees there but we were
glad to get off the hot plains and into the mountains.
and I visited Billy the Kid's grave but skipped the museum. Then it was on to Roswell where a
friendly and talkative woman greeted us at the visitor center. We went to the museum next
door and wondered where all the alien stuff was. It turned out that we were at the art museum
so after a lunch at Denny's we found the real alien museum which made "believers" out of us.
Well at least we met some very passionate believers including authors of alien encounter
books and those who were describing their alien abduction experience. We managed to be in
Roswell during convention week but unfortunately missed the parade by a day.
Next, it was on to Carlsbad Caverns. (On the way I very nearly hit a huge vulture.) It was
amazing how big the caverns are. We hiked down the 750' but we were force to take the
elevator back since it was too late to hike back up. It was still more than a two mile hike. After
enjoying nachos and quesadillas by the gift shop we made the 50 minute drive to Pine Springs
Campground. This was a very nice, scenic, and cooler spot at the base of the mountains.
We awoke to a beautiful morning and as I exited the tent I was startled by a deer running
through our site. Our hike started from the campground at 6:10 and once again we made good
time despite some steep sections with numerous switchbacks. I enjoyed the views on this
one which were greener than on the drive here. The clear weather with a high of 84 degrees
made it that much nicer. We did not see other hikers on the two hour hike up and had the peak
to ourselves where we stayed for 35 minutes. We passed about a dozen hikers heading up as
we hiked down. The hike down was naturally faster (1:35) and we finished at 10:20. This was
a 2.3 mph pace for the 8.4 mile round trip hike and again well below the 6 - 8 hour estimate
given in the guide books.
The rest of the day was spent driving back up through Roswell and to a tiny campground at
the Taos Ski Area near the base of Wheeler Peak. It was a cool 68 degrees there but we were
glad to get off the hot plains and into the mountains.
Kevin decided to run through
New Mexico to Texas. It didn't
look like it would be too far.
New Mexico to Texas. It didn't
look like it would be too far.
A nice little campsite with a
beautiful view at the base of
Guadalupe Peak.
beautiful view at the base of
Guadalupe Peak.
Steep ascents with nice early morning views.
Kevin surveys his progress
from a pinnacle just off the trail.
from a pinnacle just off the trail.
Highpoint number 35!
Summit monument erected in 1958
courtesy of American Airlines.
Summit monument erected in 1958
courtesy of American Airlines.
Wish we had the time and energy to scramble over to and up El Capitan.
