Guadalupe Peak

31-Oct-84

By: R. J. Secor

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Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in Texas. I had heard that it was an interesting hike, so Scott Harden, John Secor and I decided to climb the peak after returning from a trip to Mexico's volcanoes.

The roadhead is the Pine Springs Campground in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. It is located a half mile off of Highway 62-180, approximately 55 miles southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico, and 110 miles east of El Paso, Texas. The trail starts at the northwest corner of the trailer and RV parking lot in the campground. The trail is about two years old, and climbs 2,930' in 4.4 miles to the summit. We made the round trip in 4 hours.

At the summit there is a register and a monument erected by American Airlines in 1958, on the 100th anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental mail route (which passed beneath Guadalupe Peak). There are tremendous views from the summit.

We were able to see snow-topped Sierra Blanca 100 miles to the northwest. Most intriguing was the Guadalupe Mountains National Park backcountry. It appears to be a fine backpacking area, despite the absolute dearth of water for hikers.


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