My 2020 Trip to New Mexico 2: Guadalupe Mountains NP
This blog post is about my second day in New Mexico in March 2020. You can read about my first trip here.
My second day in New Mexico started bright and early. Today was technically not going to be spent in the Land of Enchantment. Instead, I was going to Guadalupe Mountains National Park to hike Guadalupe Peak - the highest point in the state of Texas. My best friend had expressed interest in one day hiking to the highest peak in every state. I scoffed at him when he expressed that because I hadn't yet fallen in love with hiking. He had already climbed to the Texas summit and this was my chance to catch up years after.
Before I left my cabin however, I met my neighbors: a charming, older couple that was in the cabin next to mine. They came out to join me while I was drinking my campfire coffee. They were in their late 60s and early 70s, and were spending their retirement touring the parks. We both had big hiking plans, though, so I didn't linger.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is quite different from Big Bend National Park in that the roads don't connect to many areas the park. Big Bend is vast. Guadalupe is much more contained and to see much of the park, you'll have to put on your hiking boots and hit some trails.
I arrived at the visitor center almost as soon as the park had opened. I had stopped by the previous night, but had only picked up a trail map and a few postcards. I used the restroom, filled up my water bottles, and accidentally bought a kitchen magnet. I cocked my head to look skyward to the peak ahead of me, both my hands clasped about my trusty Brazos Walking Stick. I had hiked in mountains before during my trip to Colorado with my best friend, but this was the first time I planned to reach a peak.
The trail meanders along the cliff side, broken up at a few points by these rugged looking bridges. Inevitably, the wind would lash out at me when I attempted to cross these bridges, threatening me with a long fall (and death) if I lost my footing. I hunkered down until I stopped shivering, then pushed on.
The most comfortable stretch is among the greenery. At some points during the trail, the pinyon pine and juniper trees form archways, providing much of the shade. This is a helpful relief if you happen to be on the sunned side of the mountain. The foliage starts to grow less thick as you hit the higher elevations as much of the vegetation is small and scraggly. But these times also let you see the endless horizon.
Nearly eight and a half miles and 3000 feet of elevation later, I was back down at the trailhead. With breaks, I had been in the bush for about 7 hours. After the most urgent restroom break of my adult life, I hopped into my hatchback and drove back to the cabin sweaty, exhausted, and ravenous.
The Carlsbad KOA operated a kitchen that allegedly made some awesome burgers. I placed the order and took a shower while it cooked. I ate my dinner out on the deck of my cabin while nursing another of my fruity Seagram's Escapes. The campground was peaceful despite being at near capacity and relatively close to the road. My neighbors came over to talk while they cooked their dinner. We swapped adventure tales for while until it started to get dark. They retired to their cabin, and I read for a while under the porch light.
Afterward, I turned off the light and nursed another Seagram's as I watched the stars.
This was my last night at the cabin - I would be going to my last destination tomorrow: White Sands National Park. But that's a story for another day.
Thank you for reading, if you made it this far~