So watching hundreds of thousands of bats busting out of that ridiculously deep cavern was more than awe inspiring.
On the map Carlsbad Cavern and Guadalupe Mtn National Park looked pretty close together. Given that it was night time and the road was somewhat less than an Interstate, in regards to size and speed, well lets just say that the lightning and thunderstorm didn't bode well.
When we rolled into the campground at Guadalupe, it was dark, really dark, I guess. It was hard to tell with the tumultuous downpour and the hail. Hail? Are you kidding me.
I did get a glimpse of our surroundings with the flashes from the lightning storm that was crackling and zapping.
We Would NOT Be Setting Up the Tent In This Weather!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome to the Hotel Prius, which was much more comfortable than I had imagined.....
that being said I hadn't imagined too much comfort crammed in the driver's seat under the steering wheel.
Guadalupe Peak--Texas High Point-- 8,749 ft elevation
One of the reasons we endured the rough sleep was so that we could get an early jump of the hike.
It was another 8.4 mile hike, 4.2 up and 4.2 down, just like the one we did in Oklahoma, except this one was marked strenuous and at the trailhead, it was suggested that you give yourself between 6 to 8 hours to complete. What follows is the description from the National Parks newsheet: "Difficulty:Strenuous. Approx. 3,000 ft elevation gain, steep, rocky path....Hike to the "Top of Texas" at 8,749' for spectacular views. Avoid the peak during high winds and thunderstorms. During warm temperatures, carry a gallon of water per person."
We were down in 5 1/2 hours and pretty worn out.
Just heading up. As fate would have it, on our toughest and most picturesque hike, my camera battery ran out and it was one of the first times ever that I went out without a back-up battery
Along the way up, we came across these most amazing looking grasshoppers, in the midst of what they might of wanted to keep private.
Maybe they put a curse on the camera and sucked out the batteries energy, because this was the last photo we were able get.
Thank goodness for the Iphone. Looking out over a little bit of Texas and a whole bunch of New Mexico and some Old Mexico.
It was cold and windy and views that went on for ever and ever. Our hardest and most grueling High Point to date.
Skye takes some of the pictures of me.
The Guadalupe Mountains as we hit the highway heading towards our good freinds house in El Paso, with a fresh battery.
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