Peak of Guadalupe in howling winds at American Airlines obelisk tribute. Texas's highest
peak at 8,751 feet.
We left Dallas after the family function heading for…we were not sure. Abilene, Big Springs, Sweetwater, Midlands
and Frog town…sorry, Kermit and then we left Texas for the night reaching White’s City. The next morning we visited
Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. We returned to Texas for a climb to Guadalupe Peak and then finished the week
in Van Horn. Phew! We’re tired after that. You have to admire the Texans. Everything is bigger and better
than anywhere else…well, the mountains are not. It would be a low blow should we make fun of their mountains
and we certainly won't especially taking into account that which follows. Talking of towns, the small ones,
sometimes we feel we're living in the setting of an early 20th century novel or movie. The contrast with
the bigger towns and cities is remarkable; we could be anywhere in the world. At times, we have to remind
ourselves we're still in the United States. (Narrative continues after pictures...)
Guadalupe Peak behind El Capitan (see next picture), the former 700 feet higher.
El Capitan Peak 700 feet below where we stand.
The day before we were nearly 800 feet below the surface in Carlsbad Caverns.
(Blog to follow later).
A silhouette on the way down, only 1,200 feet to drop. Elevation gain was 3,000 feet to peak.
One of the many views of surrounding mountains, also showing a trail cut into the face.
"Can we call this the top?" Winds gusting ferociously at times.
Jenni signing the visitors' book on Guadalupe Peak, National Park. Salt Flats at rear.
A lone red in a sea of green next to a wash.
Texans go soft with bridge across a gulley but probably constructed for horses.
Early stages of the climb.
We want to go higher...getting there slowly.
A 'piece' of El Capitan as seen from Guadalupe Peak.
The freeways, traffic, the size of the cities, you name it—they are wild, fast, big and certainly not beautiful.
However, the state is dynamic. We're excited to be on the trails again. The people are generally nice, though.
We looked for hikes along the way to Texas and found one with an elevation gain of 92 feet—that was a real turn-on.
Then we found Guadalupe National Park. Wow! It can be said that I have never found a mountain that I did not fall
in love with. Probably true. However, the trail, the scenery, the atmosphere on that mountain range provided us
with one of our best experiences. For a hiker it is pure delight. I would do it again tomorrow but the editor
would argue against it. Texans, for what it’s worth, this is one fine mountain range and park. It’s reason enough
to return to the Lone Star State. We are hiking again in the park Sunday.
The weather over the past couple of months has varied from hot days, freezing nights, snow, rain and ice, cold days
and high winds. Just as we prepare for winter, it's not unusual to wake to a sunny day with temperatures in
the seventies. We hope for more of those days but realize it's wishful thinking.
When we reached the peak, the attractive obelisk sitting on top reminded me of Gavin’s early years in America,
specifically, Texas. The structure is a tribute to the early pilots and American Airlines. The same airline awarded
Gavin a prize as the best student in his school in his first full year in this country…in Dallas (1990).
I have a theory that Texas forced the issue and re-drew the boundary with New Mexico to incorporate this mountain
range within its territory. Whereas Texas is mostly flat, the range is more in keeping with New Mexico’s landscapes.
What puzzles us is the time issue. Anyone who knows me intimately…is that right?...would understand how much
I dislike fooling around with the clock. They move it forward and backward to make the days longer when they
are already long and shorter when they are short. What gives?
We crossed the border from Texas into New Mexico and traveled but a short distance and we gained an hour.
Then we set the alarm in our room in White’s City, NM for an early wake which we had kept on Texas time. The reason
being that after leaving White’s City, we would lose an hour on the mountain in Texas. Get this. When we arrived at
the Guadalupe Mountain Park situate in Texas, the clocks were set to mountain-time (NM). Is it any wonder we
are confused? I woke through the night checking the alarm clock but having to remember it was central time while
the telephone was mountain-time. Hey, anyone out there, please send me the time.
The day before we went down into the Carlsbad Caverns nearly 800 feet below the surface. It was another wonderful
experience. (More about that later.) We reached the peak of Guadalupe, an 8.5 mile roundtrip, in two-and-quarter hours,
after gaining 3,000 feet elevation. The altitude, however, was only 8,751 feet. This great hike was made
more challenging because of the gusting winds. At one stage, Jenni grabbed my pack as a gust propelled me while
in mid-step. When we crossed a narrow pass, Jenni got down low to streak across it. The instability at the peak
was a little frightening as the wind had no resistance but ourselves. Wind aside, it was quite an experience. Did we
mention what a wonderful mountain range it is? How dem Texans!
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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