Guadalupe Peak
This was an afterthought. A convenient opportunity to knock off the high point of my home state (one which no one associates with mountains). Heading home from some real hiking out on the lower Colorado Plateau in Arizona, I couldn't imagine the next time I'd be through this terribly desolate part of West Texas (that this West Texan had never actually visited before).
My hour drive up from Van Horn was pitch black. I arrived at the park shortly before sunrise, which I was able to watch from about 500 ft up the 3000 ft climb. Not sure where this absolute certainty came from, but as I climbed on I knew I was alone on this mountain. At first it was a little unnerving in the shadowy wooded areas, and the warnings of bears and mountain lions at the trailhead caused me to very loudly whistle an odd playlist of mainly South Park and Depeche Mode tunes.
When I finally caught my first glimpse of the actual Guadalupe summit, it seemed very pale. As I climbed higher, I realized all the vegetation the last 300 ft or so was covered in frost. I was treated to the stunning combination of the rising sun reflecting off infinite frost crystals blowing in the light breeze. And a beautiful clear sky.
It hit me like a flood that I was the only person that would see this show today. That for some reason the earth had deemed me the special one for this. And it absolutely destroyed me. In a good way, but still...
The top was very cold, but I hung out a while to stare out into the vast gorgeous emptiness of far West Texas. As I walked back down, most of the remaining frost had blown away, and I didn't meet another hiker until at least halfway down.
In the past, as I've approached home after one of these trips, I'm filled with a minor dread and an almost insurmountable desire to turn around. Strangely, I haven't felt that at all the last few hours of my drive.
Thanks, y'all.
Stats
Guadalupe Peak: 8,749 ft (#1 in TX)
Distance: 8.1 miles
Gain: 2,857 ft