This video is proof that a family-with-autism can do adventurous things! Hiking Guadalupe Peak was definitely out of our comfort zone, but with several weeks of hiking prep back home, we managed to make it to the peak in less than 3.5 hours. The famed Guadalupe Peak is the highest elevation in the entire state of Texas. It's 8,751 feet tall, 3,000 of which you ascend from the Pine Springs Trailhead, 4.25 miles away.
We stepped off the trailhead at sunrise, which kept us cool for most of our trek. By noon it was getting hot, and you could really feel it once you ascended above the shady treeline. The wind really started picking up by the time we could see El Capitan (over 8,000 feet). That mid-morning the wind was probably upwards of 60 mph on the peak itself. Coming down the mountain took nearly as long. Steep hills, sometimes slippery switchbacks, and loose rocks slowed us down to bake in the midday heat. Even though we brought up more than 2.5 liters of water and sports drink per person, it was not enough to get us back down. Best advise: leave at first light and bring a gallon of water per person, per the park's advice.
We spent the night at the campground near the Pine Springs Visitor Center at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The tent camping was decent, but be ready for no water or electricity. There was running water in the bathrooms near the trailhead. The night's sky was full of stars, but the kids were too tired to wake up and look. We would do this again, but we really need to train harder next time.
28 окт 2024
