Climb Guadalupe Peak.

How I did it: We spent more time than we should have messing around at Carlsbad Caverns in the earlier part of the day, so it was already well after noon (3:30 or 4pm maybe) by the time we got there.  This led to me being a bit of a slave driver to get up to the camp site so we'd still have sun to set up the tent.  That night, we had dinner and were treated to a spectacular view of the night sky.  The next morning, after breakfast, we left our packs with our tent, taking only water and cameras up to the peak.  The view is pretty freakin' spectacular!  After we'd eaten our fill of vistas, we headed back down to the campsite, broke camp, and went back down to the trailhead.

Lessons & tips:

• Start early
• Take a bit more water than you think you'll need. The National Park Service recommends a minimum of 1 gallon per person per day, plus whatever you'll need for cooking and washing.  We took that, plus an additional quart and we ran out on our way back down.  It made us pretty crabby towards eachother for the last mile or so.
• Make sure you have sturdy boots/shoes with THICK soles.  It's a bit rocky.
• Be sure to write something in the book that's in the ammo can at the top!

Resources: National Park Service -- Guadalupe Mountains

Jun 08, 12:16PM PDT | 2 comments | 3 cheers