As we left Big Bend National Park in Texas, and drove north toward New Mexico, we saw more desert. Miles and miles of colorful blossoming cactus stuck into dry flat earth was all we saw until a mountain appeared in front of us. We saw it far in the distance and drove straight at it for more than 20 miles. It seemed as though we would never get close to it. The big red mountain whose peak reached far up into the clouds was Guadalupe Peak. As soon as we parked our house in the campground (which was just a parking lot), we checked with a ranger on the hikes available. We were only going to be able to do one hike, so we wanted to take the best one. The ranger suggested the scenic nine-mile canyon hike, but I kept looking at the information about the hike to the peak and thinking about that mountain. Driving to it, as we had done, I couldn't get it out of my mind. I wanted to touch it. I rationalized that it was only a few miles longer than the longest hike we had done at Big Bend. I really felt up to the challenge and talked Ron into it. The peak stood at an elevation of 8,749 feet and we were at a little over 5,000 feet in the campground where the trail began. Our climb would be over 3,000 feet and we were told that our eight and one-half mile hike should take us six to eight hours round trip. We started out full of excitement early the next morning. Our canteens were full of water and we had our backpacks filled with lunch and other nourishing goodies. We also carried our cameras, binoculars, walking sticks, and I was wearing my new Reebok Ladies Rugged Walker shoes that I broke in nicely at Big Bend. 

The climb was dramatic, daring and spectacular. It was so steep at the beginning that the calves of my legs tightened right up. Now I knew why we had to sign a log book at the at the beginning of the trail; this was a real climb. Good thing that we had our walking sticks. The switchback trail snaked along and up and in no time, the campground below looked like a toy parking lot. We were going up quickly, but we were nowhere near the top of the first peak, and it wasn't the one that we set out to conquer. Guadalupe Peak was beyond and a lot higher. After one hour, we were on the back of the first peak and could see our destination---still so far up. Looking down from this point was scary. I couldn't believe that I had subjected myself to such a hike when I am afraid of anything higher than a roller coaster. The mountain trails that we had been on in Big Bend seemed like casual walks now and there were always lots of trees so that I couldn't see straight down hundreds of feet. On some parts of this trail, we were walking on a narrow ledge which encircled the mountain and looking down was a sheer drop. A looooooong way down. 

We met a few other hikers---one was coming down already and two passed us when we were on the way up. They were a lot younger. By the way, on the whole climb up and down, we only counted 11 others who did it that day and 10 of them were young men. The one female was in her early 20's. We had started out at 8 a.m. and reached the summit a little before noon. The view was awesome. I kidded that we could see Houston from there. Ron said, "No, I think we can see Florida." The two guys who passed us were still up there taking pictures. Both were good climbers and one (Adrian) plans to climb to the highest peak in each state. He practically ran up and down the mountain (I don't know what his hurry was). Adrian is planning to do Mt. Everest soon. We were in good company right? Besides the view at the top, there was a metal box and inside a ledger book where all who climbed could sign their name. We now have our name in the "summit box" on Guadalupe Peak---8,749 feet up in the air. 

The climb down was just as difficult as the climb up, mainly because it was so steep. It would be okay for a little while, but four miles of steepness stretches the leg muscles in ways that are not natural. The top of my toes blistered from rubbing against my shoes. We were down by 3:30 and we just collapsed at home for a while---too tired to even take our shoes off. Once we got the energy to shower, we felt a little better. Dinner was instant soup and we were in bed by 8:30. You are probably asking why we would torture our bodies so, and I cannot give you an answer. It was just there beckoning me to touch it. At least we can say that we did it. All the others came down looking just as beat as we felt. But we were the only ones even near our age to climb Guadalupe peak that day.