Guadalupe Peak

Today was the day that I stroved to boldly go where I have not gone before.  If I am victorious then my motto will read; Veni, Vidi, Ambulavi, Ascenditi, Vici. {I came, I saw, I walked, I climbed, I conquered.}

I awoke before the chickens this morning but not before Auntie.  She made me breakfast and Uncle got up too.  I was rushing a little bit because I had gotten up late and when Uncle pointed out that I was still early I counterpointed out that I was figuring everything on fast time.   All in all I ended up an hour late late in leaving.  Then I remember that I still had to find a post office.

I located the post office in town and dropped off a bill that was coming due then I made my way to the interstate while listening to Ms. Google talk "dirty" to me, (that command of her's to "Stay Straight"... Well, let's not go there) showing me the way.

I kept to the speed limit traveling west on I-10, which stayed at 80 mph for the most part, until I came to Ft. Stockton.  Here I jumped off, got gas, and some fluid to for the windshield washer that was empty.  For some strange reason I had such a strong inkling to go south to Balmorhea but I was able to overcome it.  

From Ft. Stockton I kept on US 285 north.  Went through Pecos, crossing I-20, and up to Orla.  Here I caught Tx 452 and took it west til I intersected US 62 & US 180.  Dawn broke at Pecos and sunrise was around Orla.  I stopped at a Rest Area that was about ten miles from the trailhead to use the potty and stretch.  I got to looking around at the different placards they had that told the history of the area.  I already knew I was late so no sense in trying to rush, now.

I made the trailhead about 2 hours late.  After parking, {sure hope so!} I loaded up with 4 apples, 4 liters of water, camera, GPS, cleaning wipes, a sweat rag, hat, and shades.  The water fit into to camel pack with the wipes but I was going to have to hand carry the apples.  That was ok; I doubted that any was going to make it to the top.

The trail started out at 5739 ft above sea level, gradually but steadily ascending.  The trail was mostly loose gravel with steps made with vario material, (slate , wood, cedar logs).

At 6715 ft I came to the first mile and  stopped  to eat an apple.  The apple tasted good but it didn't set well on my stomach.   While resting I realize that I haven't gone a thousand feet by the first mile.  Now on one of the trail description I read that the ascend was 30000 ft within the first mile and a half. I was beginning to doubt that since a 2000 ft ascension in a half a mile was more of a climb and the trail wasn't looking that much steeper.  

While sitting there a young couple passed me by and I watched them as they ascended; noticing how the trail switched back.  They came to a tree that was about 300 feet above where I was and then they just disappeared.  Since there was a large boulder near that tree I figured that the trail ducked behind the bolder.  It wasn't until a few minutes later that I notice someone coming down that was still higher than the tree and to the right.  About the time that person got to the tree the young couple popped up.  Apparently they had been resting in the shade of that tree and I must have momentarily looked away right before they sat down.

I started to ascend again and  with every switch-back the view, while it overlooked the same area, broaden out.  At the one and one-half mile I  was at 7080 and at the timber line; only 1300 feet.  For my back easterners; this timber line wasn't where the timber stopped going up but where it started.  The few trees I had encountered on the trail before this was small, scraggly, and sparse.  Here was a good tree line and even with them not towering like we are use to east of the Mississippi, they still created a canopy of shade to travel through.  I trudged on.

At mile two I was only at 7437 feet and had only climbed 1700 ft.  By now I notice that a thunderstorm was rolling in.  I started to push hard then to make the summit before the rain but at mile three I was still only at 7984 ft.  I had climbed 2245 ft and still had at least 800 more ft to go.  I also had a bad thunderstorm directly over me with a only a wally-world plastic bag to protect my camera should the torrential downpour should come.  And I had only four hours til sunset.  Now I know there is suppose to be primitive camp sites near the summit but I wasn't geared for such and even knowing that going down was going to be faster than going up it wasn't going to be a walk in the park.  Those steps that have given me trouble ascending will give me twice the amount of trouble descending.

It was a hard decision but safety should always precede pride:  I started down.

Now so many of the others that I had seen going down did a kind of run going over those steps.  Not me!  I sur'nuff would have had to be carried off if I tried that.  Descending those steps and keeping upright when the gravel slid was very trying and just as tiring as trying to ascend.  Here more than trying to go up is where I realized how much of a necessity a walking staff was.

The descent was uneventful, I had wrapped my camera up into the grocery bag for protection but I only felt maybe less than a dozen drops of rain.  At the two mile mark I met a couple of young men that were heading up.  I told them that there was still over two miles to go and warned them about the storm but they continued anyway.

A little ways farther I met a couple that was going up to spend the night.  We talked about the storm and they had the gear for it but they were wondering if those types of storms rolled through or stayed awhile.  I pointed out that I wasn't from here and that this storm wasn't acting typical to what I was use to seeing.  They headed on up.

By the one mile marker I realized that I could be in trouble.  My bowels wanted to void but there was no where on this part of the trail that I could have departed and completed this business.  My sphincter muscle was fixin' to get a workout.

So now my already slow descent was just made a little bit slower.  By the time of the last switch back I was having a lovely time trying to "keep my shit" contained.  It's also when I notice this little fellow checking me out.  I couldn't figure out what it was and spoke to it a few time thinking it would take off and I could get a better idea of what it was.  It never moved.  I finally started going again and after moving a few feet I could finally see what it was: a burnt stump.

Time to get off this mountain!

Within a 100 yards of the trailhead I heard the two  young men running up behind me.  They made it to the top and back down probably before I even started my descent.  Bless them.

I finally made the trailhead and over to the bathroom without the need of a change of clothes, but I was afraid for a moment that when I release my sphincter that I was going to vagal out.  Finished up that business and got to the car.  Now to find food, and shelter.

I sent text  messages to both Auntie Marie and Charles Leon that I had made it out, alive, and that I was going to find a motel room.  Auntie text me back but I learned later that Charles Leon never received his.

I returned the way I came in.  I stopped at that Rest Area but they had no vending machines.  By now it was dark.

On Tx 452 I got a jackrabbit,but other than oil trucks the trip was uneventful.  Orla ain't got nothing!  The one lone store was locked up tighter than a drum.  If I had knew the area I would have made towards Kermit but I didn't.  I kept heading towards lights and realizing that they were oil rigs.  I was beginning to think I was going to have to pull over and sleep in the car.  Then I finally came upon some civilization.  Hooray!

I stopped at the first convenience store that was still open and bought a Dr. Pepper and an Orange juice.  I killed the orange juice in the parking lot.  Then I found the interstate and got a room at the first motel I found.  Walking into the room, showered and hit the bed.  The room was cold so I hunkered down under the covers and slept; for about an hour, when I had to get up and turn that dab-blame AC off.  I slept soundly then.

I awoke and realized that I was in Pecos TX. only about an hour  from Charles Leon.  I got the motel breakfast and then I called to alert him that I was on my way.

Looking back I realize that there was four reasons, or pitiful excuses, of why I failed:

1. Middle of Summer.  Hot even with those higher altitudes.

2. Started Late and Drove 5 1/2 hours before I even started.

3. Not properly prepared myself.

4. No walking staff or stick.

Next time I will be better prepared and even have some overnight, bivouac gear in case, a walking stick or staff.  I'll spend the night before in the area if I don't camp at the mountain, it will be in the spring and I'll probably get very intimate with the Chinnabee-silent trail and climb that 800 foot within a half mile ascent quite a few time.

Guadalupe has not seen the last of me.