Somehow, someway, we were determined to get to the highest point in Texas. As went the myth of a flat Earth, today we set out to dispel the false notion that Texas is completely flat.

Warming us up quickly and painfully, the first mile and a half from the Pine Springs campground was the steepest part of the hike, with multiple trail switchbacks up the sharp rocky slope. With each switchback we climbed, the views of the desert below got better and better...

After the first mile-and-a-half vertiginous (good S.A.T. word!) section, the trail became a tad less steep as it passed a cliff and turned around to the north-facing slope. Suddenly, the trail became shady, fierce gusting winds thrashed against our faces, and we looked at each other wondering if we should continue. “Whaddya think? Are you okay to keep going?”, I said to Eliana. Packing our caps away so as not to lose them to the wind, we busted out a few extra shirt layers, and made an executive decision to continue the journey upwards.

With the cooler, shadier climate on this side of the mountain, a small forest of pinyon pine, white pine, and Douglas fir was growing, and soon sheltered us from the brutal howling wind.

After nearly three miles, our lower backs were beginning to throb, and we topped out at a false summit. With hope that we were already at the top, we realized it was another grueling mile yet to go! Spotting a family of six bighorn sheep below us gave us the drive to forge on for the final mile.

After passing a backcountry campsite, the trail descended slightly and crossed a wooden bridge, and we began the final climb to the summit. After only a few switchbacks, the top of “El Capitan” (not to be confused the the Yosemite peak of the same name) dominated the view to the south. Here it is below, one of West Texas’s signature peaks...

Finally, finally, FINALLY....... we were rewarded at the top of Guadalupe Peak with a tremendous view of the surrounding mountains and desert. A stainless steel pyramid-shaped monument at the summit signified the end of our quest. Adrenalin rush! We happily signed the summit log, tucked away in an ammo can at the base of the pyramid, and snapped a photo to claim the “virtual geocache” at the top. Whoo-hooooooo!

It was time for lunch, and a well-deserved summit snooze...

The four-mile journey back down wasn’t half bad, and we did it in about three-quarters the time it took to go up. Mission accomplished and back at the base, we packed our things and headed south on the Texas roads through the desert.

Arriving in the small town of Alpine, we camped the night at an RV park and prepared for arrival at the next “Big” National Park, just around the “Bend”!