Guadalupe Peak

Monday, October 08, 2012

We finally got to see what our campground looked like!

What a great day!  We both decided we needed to go back to Guadalupe National Park to see it without the cloud cover and to summit the highest peak in Texas, Guadalupe Peak.  We drove from Carlsbad and revisited our campground to see what it really looked like.  Beautiful!  Surrounded by mountains and beautiful blue sky day!  We started our hike at 9:30.  It is stated at the trailhead to plan 6 to 8 hours and 2971 elevation gain over 4.2 miles, therefore 8.4 miles.  It was a brutal start, quick elevation gain with switchbacks and rocky trail with lots of steps.  Jack of course lead and I decided to go a slightly slower pace.

  Beautiful views all the way up.  Met some folks on the trail from Houston and a man and his 11 year old son from Minnesota.  Tough little bugger!  Walked through open rocky area at first and then into a forest and then more rocky open area.  Made it to the summit by 11:45 and celebrated.  There was a deaf man at the summit.  We took his picture for him with his Pittsburg Steeler jersey and towel.  I guess I can’t blame him, he is from Pittsburgh.  His girlfriend arrived at the summit about 45 minutes later.  We had passed her on the trail.  We took lots of pictures, signed the book and ate lunch.  Spent almost an hour at the summit and then headed back down which was considerably easier. Jack lead again and occasionally waited for me. 

 About 2/3 of the way down I see him in front of me waving his hands and then motioning me to hurry.  I knew he wanted me to take a picture.  (That’s why he is supposed to have the little camera).  I hurried as quickly as I dared and he pointed at a creature.  It had crossed about 1 foot in front of him as he was leaning on the rock waiting for me.  Nice big fuzzy tarantula, oh my!  I got the pictures and then we left him to hide.  Pretty cool to see one in the wild. 

 Difficult hike but worth it, although we are tired tonight!  Drove back to Carlsbad and got the oil changed on the Ord (Ordelia).  This place was amazing, they advertise the 10 minute oil change and they are not kidding.  You drive your car in and 4 guys attack your car, checking the tires, checked the fluids, wipers, and changed the oil in less than 10 minutes.  This could be a great business idea for someone.  It was so fast, I barely had time to sit in the waiting area and open a magazine.  We didn’t even have an appointment.  They would have vacuumed the floors but not possible in our overstuffed little Ord.  Had dinner in the room, Jack’s favorite rotisserie chicken.