Climbing the top of Texas - Mt. Guadalupe

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After quitting my current position I wanted to climb the top most part of Texas, the state where I was based for the last 3 years. Yes, I know it sounds a bit ridiculous that Texas being a desert has anything more to offer, but it is true. Texas actually is like a whole new country. It has the gulf coast to the west and the Chihuahuan desert to the East. The tallest point in Texas is the Guadalupe Mountain at an altitude of 8700 feet (2650 metres). I wanted to spice up the trip a bit to turn it into an adventure and so decided to hike up with bedding stuff (tent, sleeping bags, accessories etc). Pavi being a sportive companion agreed to dance to my tune. Thus psychologically I would feel I have conquered before leaving Texas.

We rented a Toyota Yaris and drove the 500 mile to the Eastern part of Texas near El paso. We drove the night and reached the Guadalupe Mountain national park at 10 AM. We got some information and registered for backcountry camping (It is free!). We then drove around to White city (35 miles) to have some food and then came back to start the hike up. We started climbing by 3 PM. We had hoped to reach the base camp site in 3 hours but had grossly underestimated the task. Height and heat slowed us down besides the fact that this was our first time.

The view along the way was breathtaking and by 8 PM we reached the base camp site. We pitched out tent and tired as we were went to sleep immediately. The night was cold and rained a few times. Early the morning, we got ready and begun the steep hike up the mountain. At 10 AM we were on top of Texas. We had successfully climbed Mt. Guadalupe, the tallest point in Texas.

We took a few pictures and climbed down to base camp and after dismantling and packing the tent, began the hike down which was equally stressful as the hike up. This is because we walking with gravity and have to do so carefully arching the body backwards. This movement also causes the foot to slide inward inside the boot pushing against the top causing pain. After 3 hours we finally reached the car and then drovw to White's city for food and then on to Carlsbad caverns for a quick tour. We started around late evening to drive back to Dallas, stopping and sleeping along the way finally reaching Dallas the next day in the morning.

This was our first mountain hiking trip and was quite an adventure to remember.

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Photos

At the top of Mt. Guadalupe
8700ft above Sealevel

Park entrance
Guadalupe Mountain National Park - The mist covered peaks can be seen above

Texas roadways
Guadalupe mountain range

Car from above
We thought we hiked a long distance. A fellow hiker shattered our hope. We had only traversed 15% the distance to base camp.

Finally plants for shade
At places like this, the shade of the plants is blissful from the Texan heat