We completed our climb of Guadalupe Peak on May 1, 2004. We drove early in the morning to Guadalupe Mountains National Park from White's City, about 30 miles or so north in New Mexico. The Best Western Inn was okay, but the free breakfast for hotel guests (served at the nearby Jack's Restaurant) is nothing to write home about -- unless you like powdered eggs.

We checked-in at the Visitor's Center and spoke briefly to some of the Park Rangers, who were modeling a version of a new hiking hat that is now for sale there. I'll stick with my Seattle Sombrero, I think. At 8:25 a.m. we were geared-up and we took off down (oops, I mean UP!) the Guadalupe Peak Trail. The trail starts near the Visitor's Center at the Pine Springs campground, at a large trailhead marker. There is a hiking log where you indicate your name, number in your party, date and time, and the trail you are hiking. You are meant to sign-out when you return, so no one will get worried about a bear eating you. There is also a container of envelopes in which you must deposit $3 for each hiker, and a pipe safe where you place the envelopes.

Just a short distance into the trail, a marker indicates the direction to take for Guadalupe Peak. In addition to the hiker's trail to the Peak, there is a longer section for those on horseback. If you are not riding a horse, don't make the mistake of taking the horseback trail -- it is much longer. If you are riding a horse, the horse will die due to falling off one of the narrow ledges on the upper sections.

Immediately past the marker the Guadalupe Peak Trail begins its uninterrupted uphill pitch -- one that gains about 3,000 feet in altitude before terminating at the summit. Unlike some trails that are of the up-and-down variety, the Guadalupe Peak Trail is all up-and-up (the good news is that returning from the summit is a down-and-down affair). Not all the trek is steep, however. The grade on some of the sections is mild, and the trail is especially enjoyable on these.

Rocks, rocks, rocks cover almost every inch of the trail, so it is important to watch your step so as to avoid turning an ankle or tripping (I was most worried about falling and looking stupid, of course). My feet were tired and sore due to the unremitting rocky surface we endured for more than 8 miles.

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