Afraid of the Summer Heat?

Yesterday, we headed to Guadalupe Mountains National Park to log some more miles in the Peak Fitness Challenge, our free hiking program organized by the Texas Mountain Trail and lots of partners and volunteers.  Sure, it was HOT when we started out about 10:30 in the morning, but we knew that the Smith Spring trail offered something very special for summer hikers.

**Stay tuned, because right here late next week we'll announce some special guided hikes in the park, including the Smith Spring trail, for Sunday, June 23.  Details to come!** 

Agave blooming in the desert

At the middle of this 2.6 mile hike, there's a natural spring which means water and shade trees, and hummingbirds and dragonflies, all of which we saw yesterday.  The spring is the desert's best kept secret as it is "hidden" between two peaks, into the fold of the mountains atop a dry arroyo.  We spent almost an hour in the cool, dark spring area before we headed out into the sun, fully refreshed.

Getting there is a gradual climb of 400 or so feet....there's no "climbing" or scrambling over boulders, just a gentle rise on a dirt or rocky path.  This is rated as a moderate hike, but many beginning hikers may be ready to tackle it. 

Not only do you get to visit this cool, green, shaded oasis, but the trail also takes you by Manzanita Spring, a pond, and a frequent stop for birds and wildlife.  The trail begins and ends at the historic Frijole Ranch house, now a small museum showing early life in the Guadalupe Mountains. That's why this trail is designated as a "Texas Mountain Trail Heritage Hike."

More photos from the trail from yesterday! 

Closeup of the agave blooms

Pools of water from Smith Spring

Outdoor Tip!

Our friends at Clif MOJO sent us some bars to sample along with some "Adventure Tips for the Great Outdoors!"  

Here's one they offer:  "Packing snacks is a no brainer.  It's better to err on the side of having too much versus too little.  Consider factors such as weight, bulk, nutritional value and taste.  Try packing a few Clif Mojo Sweet and Salty Trail Mix Bars to cover your snacking needs, and plenty of water to stay hydrated during your day outdoors."

Guadalupe Peak Trail

Sarah Clark
Community Outreach

SCA AmeriCorps Intern

Guadalupe Mountains

 National Park

Guadalupe Peak Trail by Sarah Clark

Mountain tops seem to hold a special place in men’s minds. Moses came down from the mountain top with the moral code that has shaped the lives of millions of people for thousands of years. Native Americans seek their visions among the mountain tops, while Buddhist monks remain to find nirvana. The mountain top is a symbol of clarity, knowledge, and enlightenment. The effort and struggles of gaining the peak are integral to the significance of gaining the summit. No one would say they had conquered a mountain by flying to the top in a helicopter. No, each step on the way to the top has its own place and meaning.

The hike to the top of Guadalupe Peak is no different. As you work your way up the trail the desert floor falls away; the sounds of the highway gradually fade. Valleys and hills unfold before you, curving away to join ridge upon ridge, knitted together by rock and tree. Rounding a corner opens new worlds, as barren hillsides and sheer cliff faces become mountain slopes covered in pines, only to give way to the grassy shoulders of the peak. The air, thin enough to give pause as you switchback your way through the steepest sections of the trail, fills with the scent of pine. Even with your eyes closed, the air near the peak would tell you that you are far from the rest of the world. The last scramble to the summit, full of white fossil rich rocks of a long vanished reef, brings you face to face with the goal of your long climb. The mountain top is yours. Away below is the work-a-day world. But here, on the top, the press of everyday affairs is far away. Whether the first or the hundredth time to the top, the summit brings its own sense of time and scale to your perspective. As you gradually make your way back down the trail the headiness of the summit will remain. Distances seem changed, perspectives reframed. The memory of the view from the top is contrasted with where you are. Once returned to the base, the moments of clarity on the mountain top, with only the sky above you, the winds around you, and all the world below, remain.

We are so excited to have Sarah Clark, a Community Outreach Student Conservation Association AmeriCorps Intern with Guadalupe Mountains National Park helping with our Peak Fitness Challenge! 

 

JOIN the Peak Fitness Challenge! 

This is a free, fun challenge designed to help you set goals by trying new trails in Far West Texas:  Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Franklin Mountains State Park!  When you hike a trail, you log your miles on the website AND your name is entered into a monthly drawing!  Free stuff, fun and adventure!  Try it now:  www.geobetty.com/peak

 

The Guadalupe Peak Trail IS part of the Challenge!!