New Mexico Trip #39, Part 3: More Texas Hiking

This is Part 3 of a series.  To begin at Part 1, scroll down or click 'older posts'.

 

The Texas State highpoint is Guadalupe Peak, in Guadalupe National Park.  The hike to the top is 8.6 miles return, with an elevation gain of just over 2900'.  It is a knee breaker and a foot cruncher, one of the three most difficult hikes I have ever undertaken.  Luckily it is also a highly scenic trail, so that no matter where one stops to gasp for air, the views are remarkable.  At 8751', it is hardly a high mountain, at least by New Mexico comparison.  But it towers more than 5,000' above the plain and salt lakes below.  Altitude was not a problem for me until I reached the 8,000' level.  Then the breathing became even more difficult, and my short breaks on the upward bound portion of the hike became a bit longer.  The trail is rocky and very hard on hiking boots.  It is also very steep, especially the first 1.1 miles.  The final push to the summit is also steep, and about 0.5 miles long.  On the way down the knees really take a beating.  I was fully prepared to hike part of the way, enjoy lunch and the views, and then come back down.  I never really realized just how stubborn I am until this hike.  It took me 3 1/4 hours to reach the summit, where I stopped for 30 minutes.  There were a few people up top with me, and I met more coming up on my way back down.  Overall, it is a spectacular but difficult hike.  However, all the training paid off.  I expected the worst next day, but actually I was fine!

 

My route to Guadalupe Peak, from our GPS route on Google Earth.

 

Near the start.  That peak way up on the right would haunt me all the way up.  I had to actually get higher than it.  Rather a daunting task from below.

Much higher now, but still beneath that damned peak.

Looking back to the parking lot, now far beneath me, and some switchbacks I had done a very long time ago.

Sometimes the trail edge was downright forbidding. 

 

The trail winds ever upward...

...and sometimes downward.  Background top left shows the already hiked trail descending to a bridge across a chasm, before climbing again.  Finally I am on the correct mountain.

Another view of that upbound trail descending to a small bridge.

 

Arrival!

Salt Lakes are more than 5,000' below me.

 

This is a photo from many years ago, taken from the salt lakes looking up.  Guadalupe Peak is hidden in clouds.  El Capitan sticks out on the far right.

Looking down at El Capitan, a prominent peak when seen from below.

The haze was terrible today.  I had hoped to see some distant NM mountains, but no luck.

Finally higher than that peak I looked up to all the way here!

 

The Guadalupe Mountains were once a coral sea.  At my shady lunch spot I found some fossilized coral!

Looking back at my starting area, from the summit.  The parking lot is hidden by foreground peaks.

On my way down, a close shot of that bridge.

A look back at Guadalupe Peak.  Trail switchback visible on left, centre. 

 

Descending trail view, one of the few level parts.

A few parts of the middle trail were not that steep.

There weren't many flowers, or autumn colours, on this hike.

Still a long descent ahead.  The knees have mostly had it by this time.

 

From Google Earth, looking at my hiking path to Guadalupe Peak from the mountain across the valley.

DEB'S PHOTOS 

 

Deb chose lower elevation hikes today, and explored many different areas of the park.  Here are some of her photos from her walks.

The photographer. 

 

Mapman Mike