It is an early spring afternoon as I
head south toward Guadalupe Mountains National Park. I've always wanted to
visit this park, but it's "off-the-beaten-track" location in a far
corner of west Texas never allowed for a convenient stop. You have to want to
go there as opposed to stopping by on the way to other locations in the
southwest.
I set up my base camp in the Park's
Pine Springs campground near the visitor's center. The strong winds both
current and forecasted require special care with the tent. It is not
uncommon to find tents airborne and tangled in nearby trees due to the
notorious springtime winds. I don't take chances and place large rocks both
inside and out at each of the tent's four corners.
I plan on taking three long day hikes,
one for each of the three days I will be in the park. With the 40 to 60
mile per hour winds, these hikes along the ridges, mountains, and exposed
desert flatlands promise to be interesting to say the least.
The following morning’s sunrise is
hidden by dense fog and low rolling clouds, leftovers from last night's
torrential rains. I resealed some of the tent stitchings before leaving on
this trip. Doing so has helped somewhat to keep me and the insides of the tent
dry. The parts I didn't reseal show evidence of water penetrating the fabric of
the rain fly convincing me more work is needed when I return home.
The skies clear when I leave
camp. I make my way to the trailhead and then up the winding path that
will lead me to the top of Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas. Along
the way, I look back down toward my base camp and the distant desert beyond.
The retreating wall of clouds and rain are clearly visible as it moves off to
the east, finishing its job of quenching the thirst of these parched lands.
Deer amble about and leap across the trail in front of me. The winds begin to
pick up. The little warmth of the emerging sun helps build up a sweat but it is
quickly offset by the wind's cooling effect. Sweat and then a chill, on again,
off again throughout my climb to the top.
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| Distant desert views |
The views of the desert far below and
of the mountains both next to me and above me are fabulous. When not looking at
and admiring the scenery, I concentrate and am careful not to overextend the
steps I take with my right leg. To do so runs the risk of inflaming my Achilles
tendonitis, an affliction I unfortunately deal with often.
I reach the top and am at 8,749 feet
in elevation. I struggle to keep upright against the winds. I learn later
they were blowing at 50 miles per hour with gusts up to 60 miles per hour. I
linger there for about an hour. I add my name and a few thoughts to the
notebook that is placed in an old water-tight ammo box placed at the bottom of
the pyramid-shaped summit marker. I snap
some pictures. Others who have reached the top ask me to take pictures of them.
I take my lunch on a rock located in the lee of some low lying shrubs, their growth
stunted by the incessant winds. Unfortunately, this area also serves as the
toilet for those who didn't take care of business earlier. It makes for a less
than appetizing meal break.
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| At the top of Guadalupe Peak |
Scattered about, both here at the peak
and along the trail itself, are various calcified marine fossils embedding in
the rock and stones. These mountains were at one time a reef in a large inland
sea that covered this area millions of years ago. I'm tempted to pocket some of
my finds but resist the temptation. I follow the park rules forbidding the
removal of such finds and instead leave them for others to discover and
enjoy.
I return to camp after six and a half
hours covering eight and a half miles (one hour of which was spent at the top).
I'm rethinking taking another peak hike tomorrow given the winds and the danger
it presents while walking along the exposed ridge lines.
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