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2006.05.05 - Cinco de Mayo! Instead of sitting around drinking
margaritas like most other Texans, I decided to go and climb something. The mountains of
West Texas are around 9 hours away, so its not like I can just jump up and go, but the
because of my Friday-off, I'd have time to go for an overnight and still be back in time
for Mass on Sunday!
After a mind-numbingly long drive (491.7 mi from my front door), I pulled
into Pine Springs at ~6:00 and started getting my gear ready for my dusk hike up to the
summit of Hunter Peak. The many people that were coming off of the trails looked at me with
some very strange glances as I started going the "wrong way" for that time of day. With the
shadows growing longer, I started off along the Tejas Trail toward the Bear Canyon Trail
(BCT).
It was still quite warm from the heat of the day, though I was very
thankful to have started hiking when I did! The temperature would keep dropping, and after
walking the mostly flat Tejas Trail in the sunlight, I arrived at the steep track going up
Bear Canyon in total shade. It was probably in the mid to upper 70s (F) with just enough of
a breeze to make it actually a comfortable experience. I definitely see this as a gift
given all of the times I have been stuck with a wind-free sultering slog up to the high
elevations of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
I passed by a lone hiker at the start of the climb up Bear Canyon. She
would be the only person I saw until coming back down the mountain the next day.
The canyon was beautiful. I'd always taken the Tejas Trail (TT) up Pine
Springs Canyon on my previous climbs, so the different scenery was a welcome sight. Whereas
the TT is a sunny track with panoramic views of the Southern Guadalupes, the BCT was a
world unto itself. The steep walls of the canyon inhibited any invading views from the
outside, and halfway up, the foliage closed in blocking the views of the desert to the
east. Cave entrances littered the cliffs above as the trail climbed over and under several
natural rock shelters. It was like being very far away from West Texas!
Many fragrant yellow flowers bloomed alongside the trail drawing the
buzzing wings of honeybees looking for dinner. In fact, there were all manner of
wildflowers blooming their beautiful pinks, blues and yellows and several different kinds
of skinks and lizards with different colorations; anyone who thinks West Texas is no more
than an uninspiring desert starkly devoid of life should definitely make the journey to the
Guadalupes!
While doing everything I could to appreciate the experience, I still made
good time up the trail; though the route is most definitely steeper than the TT, it never
grew excessively vertical so as to be uncomfortable. The BCT eventually made its way, and I
along with it, onto the northern flank of the canyon showcasing an amazing view of the
southern wall with the desert open out to the side. By this point, it was around 7:45 or a
bit over an hour after I started. The shadows were now growing very long, though I could
still see some persistent rays of light beaming from above the canyon.
Climbing ever higher, I noticed that my phone had reception. "Can you
hear me now? Good!" I called home to relay my plans for the next day, since I doubted that
I would get much signal while in The Bowl. Better to be safe than sorry!
I hiked up to the saddle between Frijole Ridge and Hunter Peak to see
that the Sun was, in fact, still visible on the horizon, though barely. Wanting to make it
to the top for at least some of the show, I kicked up the pace on the much less steep trail
up toward Hunter Peak. After a few minutes of hiking, I noticed a family of deer just off
the trail and upslope. I stopped to watch them and tried to get some pictures, but neither
the lighting nor the animals were too cooperative; apparently Guadalupe deer are camera-shy!
I pressed on up the trail and made short order of the remaining distance
to the Pine Top trail. This short (0.1 mi) hop up to the summit revealed magnificent views
of El Capitan, Guadalupe, Shumard, Bartlett & Bush. The sight of Pine Springs Camp some two-
thousand feet below was breath-taking as well. I finally dropped my pack on the summit of
Hunter Peak just two hours after starting my hike! Pleased with my progress, I watched in
awe as the last lights of the day descended below the mountains to the west of me. After
darkness fell, I would get my headlamp out and descend off the summit to camp for the
night. Though it was already May, I would still spend a chilly night out in 40F temperatures
and windy weather.
2006.05.06 - The next morning, I was awakened by the first rays of
the Sun. Despite the wind, which loudly whipped about me all night long, I had managed to
get some small measure of rest. After rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I got up with a
start in order to make it back up to the summit of Hunter before the Sun crested the
horizon. Leaving most of my gear behind, I grabbed my camera, Jacko and some water for the
short pitch back up to the "Most Beautiful Spot in Texas."
The view did not disappoint. To the northeast, a layer of clouds had
moved in overnight, and the glow of the Eastern Sun lit the scene spectacularly. I took a
great many pictures of this amazing place; I have to say that it is the most beautiful
sunrise that I have ever seen! I ate some breakfast while continuing to watch the show from
the summit, but before long, grew antsy to start hiking over to
Mt. Pratt. After a few more photos, I made my way down the trail back to camp to gather
my things.
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Looking west from the Tejas Trail
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A thunderhead looms in the distance!
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Looking up Bear Canyon
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Sweet-smelling flowers along the trail
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The sun began to set as I was climbing up the canyon
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Sunset from Hunter Peak
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Low-impact LNT camping near the summit of Hunter Peak
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The sun rises over the clouds - a rare sight in the Guadalupes!
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On the summit of Hunter Peak with sleep still in my eyes!
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The view to the summit from my camp
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