Road Runner Tour, Day 14

 Success -- another State Highpoint.  Betsy and I climbed Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas.  The stats are:  14th highest of the 50 highpoints; elevation 8,749 feet; elevation gain 2,667 feet (though I recorded 2,802 verts on my GPS App); rated "strenuous;" 8.9 miles (we took a slightly different way down that added about a mile and avoided some steep steps over the rocks); and enjoyed by dozens of others on a beautiful weather day, under blue skies and temperatures in the 70's.

We departed from the trailhead parking lot at 8:46 am and finished the hike in 7 hours, with several stops to enjoy the views.

The beginning steps on a rocky trail.

First look back to the trailhead parking lot at the Pine Springs Campground.

A little bit higher with a wider sweep of the Pine Springs River(bed).

The first series of switch backs - the trailhead is in the upper left.  There were many more switchbacks ahead, a testament to the trail builders' art and the only method that can be used to ascend the rather steep sided foothills.  We expected the trail to follow the mountain shoulders but the middle section and the final  section near the top wove around rock faces and cliffs, making it narrow and rocky.  The benefit to the cliffside design is that hikers are in shade much of the way, a blessing in this hot country.

Betsy set a good pace - note the rock slabs, etc.

The finish point is the peak on the right

Closing in on the last series of switchbacks and looking back toward one of the shoulder "foothills."  We came through the saddle between the foothill and Guadalupe.

Almost there, with a view to the Southwest to El Capitan, which dominates the views from the highway.

There were 15 other people on top when we arrived and finding a willing photographer was easy.

The monument is dedicated to airmen who delivered the mail and created American Airlines.

Panorama view to the east - El Capitan is on the right, the Pine Spring Canyon wall is on the left in the distance, where the trailhead is located.

Note the trail on the far canyon side leading to the back country

Heading back down (the hike is an 'in and out').

The lone bridge crossing actually spans a large vertical crack in the stone cliff.

Pine Springs Canyon

Juniper tree with interesting bark

Looking back up.  Instead of doing the last mile on the hikers path, we walked the horse path which added about a mile to the total distance but gave us a view of the canyon sights up close.

Overall, a successful hike completed safely with no mishaps.  We rewarded ourselves with a t-shirt (Betsy) and a poster (me) to hang with our many other posters of the National Parks we have visited.