Vintage Gent climbs a mountain

[Vintage Gent]

No Everest or Denali this, but still something to treasure. Earlier this week, my son and I went backpacking at Guadalupe Mountains National Park and climbed Guadalupe Peak, highest point in Texas.

Starting out:



At the top:



My son writing in the register atop the peak:

 

[Nantucket Red]

Don't keep us in suspense. How high?

 

[Vintage Gent]

Originally Posted by Nantucket Red

Don't keep us in suspense. How high?

8,749 feet above sea level, although it's only about 3,000 feet of vertical gain on the 4.2 mile trail. Still, a reasonably strenuous effort.

 

[rnoldh]

Congrats and Happy Holidays! Great quality time with your son.

I thought highest peaks in Texas are in Big Bend, near El Paso. Is that where you are?

 

[Vintage Gent]

Originally Posted by rnoldh

Congrats and Happy Holidays! Great quality time with your son.

I thought highest peaks in Texas are in Big Bend, near El Paso. Is that where you are?

While Big Bend has some decent sized peaks, the Guadalupes--located at the Texas/New Mexico border about 40 miles from Carlsbad--are the highest. Galveston, where I live, is on the other side of the state, about 700 miles away.

 

[JLibourel]

A vertical gain of 3,000 in 4.2 miles is indeed fairly strenuous.

The comments about the mountains of Texas reminds me of one occasion when I was driving across Texas somewhere near Van Horn, as I recall. I came over a rise, and suddenly I saw a steep range of mountains. "Hunh?" thought I, "I didn't realize there were any mountains of note in this part of Texas." Then it dawned on me that I was looking at Chihuahua across the River.

 

[gamelan]

Originally Posted by Vintage Gent

...only about 3,000 feet of vertical gain on the 4.2 mile trail.

a gentleman, and a modest one at that! i think 3000 feet in just about anyone's book woud be considered very strenuous. for comparisons sake, the Bright Angel Trail out of the Grand Canyon climbs 4800 feet in more than twice the distance of your hike.

either way, it's fun to see what people's hobbies are outside of clothing. a job well done to you and your son!!!

-Jeff

 

[matadorpoeta]

congratulations. are those ski poles you're holding in the first picture?

 

[Huntsman]

Trekking poles. Very useful, reduces fatigue on long/strenuous hikes, keeps your face out of the gravel on occasion, things like that. But, VG, is that an ammo box in the second pic?! Super view, btw. ~ Huntsman

 

[gamelan]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

But, VG, is that an ammo box in the second pic?!


it's probably for the peak register. pretty standard practice for peaks in the Sierras.

-Jeff

 

[Huntsman]

Ah. That makes sense. Neat. Thanks.

~ Huntsman

 

[globetrotter]

cool. how old is your son?

 

[Vintage Gent]

Originally Posted by globetrotter

cool. how old is your son?

He's 13.

 

[Vintage Gent]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

Trekking poles. Very useful, reduces fatigue on long/strenuous hikes, keeps your face out of the gravel on occasion, things like that. But, VG, is that an ammo box in the second pic?!

Super view, btw.

~ Huntsman

Yes, they're trekking poles, and without them my knees would probably turn to goo. And gamelan's right--the ammo box is for the register; the Guadalupes are famous for their winds, and you need something of decent ballast to keep things in place.

 

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Vintage Gent

He's 13.
fun times ahead mate