GUMO or Bust!

[randell]

Through a strange set of circumstances that I will not go into just yet, I am going to GUMO soon for a short trip.  Here are the plans as I laid out to my two hiking partners...trip report to follow after the expedition.

Here is the trip itenerary as I see it:

Friday
AM
Fly to Houston - El Paso
Drive El Paso - GUMO (104 miles/1.5 hours)

PM
Lunch - on your own (preferably in the car so we can get hiking)
Hike to Guadalupe Peak (4.2 miles/4 hours)
Dinner - Mountain House Meal or just eat your teeth when they shatter from the cold/wind.
Camp at Guadalupe Peak Campground (if not available, we have to change plans from the start)
Watch Sunset from top of Texas

Saturday
AM
Watch sunrise from top of Texas
Breakfast - Mountain House Meal or whatever you find in the bottom of your pack.
Hike back to Pine Canyon (4.2 miles/4 hours)

PM
Lunch - I am bringing bagels/cream cheese/pepperoni for all or bring your own crap.
Hike to Devil's Hall (4.2 miles/3-5 hours)
Dinner - Mountain House Meal or starve.
Camp at Pine Springs campground (at headquarters)

Sunday
AM
Breakfast - Mountain House Meal or whatever the hell you want.
Check out McKittrick Canyon.  Maybe hike Smith Spring Trail (2.3 miles) at McKittrick Canyon area OR drive to Salt Flats if road is good and check out sand dunes.
Drive GUMO - El Paso (104 miles/1.5 hours)
Lunch - Snack until we can pig out at airport.

PM
Fly El Paso to Houston

[Don H]

Love the meal plan :D

Man, ya gotta elaborate on your present location
 Location: Cubicle Hell, Block 64A, Cell 2103 :-s

[jeffblaylock]

Maybe hike Smith Spring Trail (2.3 miles) at McKittrick Canyon area OR drive to Salt Flats if road is good and check out sand dunes.

Smith Spring Trail is not at McKittrick. It's a loop trail from the Frijole Spring spur road. Very nice, especially in the morning. Deer and other wildlife will be frequenting the Manzanita Spring area.



Smith Spring is a neat little gurgling pool located under some trees just below 6,000 feet. It's a good leg stretcher, doesn't take too long. Any trip to McKittrick will take a while and might jeopardize your flight plans, since it's a good drive and at least a 5-mile hike.

As I recall, the salt flats are pretty dull, but I've spent some time in Bonneville, so I may be jaded.

[randell]

Oh, right, Smith Spring is not at McKittrick.  I was actually not looking at my notes when I wrote that email, just at a list of hikes I had not done before at GUMO.  Now think of it, we may try to drive to McKittrick Canyon and do the nature trail on Saturday and do Devil's Hall on Sunday AM as we can always turn around when it is time and we will be refreshed from a good-nights sleep in the skunk-infested, windblown freezer that is Pine Springs campground.

I just want to check out the Salt Flat/Sand Dune area to the West and maybe get a photo...faintly similiar to this...


Photo from http://www.terragalleria.com

[RichardM]

Love the meal plan :D

Man, ya gotta elaborate on your present location
 Location: Cubicle Hell, Block 64A, Cell 2103 :-s

Ditto on the meal plan.  :)

I don't even get a full cubicle.  It's more like a stall at a 4H show, where we have halls created by cubicle walls, with desks on the sides.  Locations are defined by grid coordinates.  Look for me at 2N0W1325.  :)

[SHANEA]

Grab some cheese crackers and GO!  

Sounds like an outstanding trip, if I'd have been invited  :oops:  and could have afforded it  :oops:  :shock:  I'd be all over it.  Alas, I'll be at home this weekend taking care of business....  Curious to find out how the airtravel works out for you.  I suppose you are flying SWA - probably dirt cheap????

[randell]

I don't even get a full cubicle.

I hear you, I barely fit in my cubicle.  

Sounds like an outstanding trip, if I'd have been invited Embarassed and could have afforded it Embarassed Shocked I'd be all over it. Alas, I'll be at home this weekend taking care of business.... Curious to find out how the airtravel works out for you. I suppose you are flying SWA - probably dirt cheap????

This was very spur of the moment.  I hadn't really had time to put much thought into it, sorry.  You can always meet us there!  Yes, we will be flying SWA for $79 each way - same price as a flight to Midland.  As long as the flights are't delayed, all will be smooth.  Last time the flights WERE delayed and I was pissed.

[SA Bill]

...add more food/meals...Guad Peak is a wonderful place to camp! Stunning sunsets and sunrises if the weather cooperates.
   
Let us know how it goes!
   Bill

[SHANEA]

...You can always meet us there!...

Wish I could, but I'm recovering from bronchitis and would actually be doing something else this weekend if I wasn't under the weather still.

Call me from the top of Texas...

[Al]

Randall, as you have noted, the Guadalupe Peak campsite has to be the most exposed campsite in State of Texas!  Talk about a view, though.  Enjoy!

Al

P.S. Hope the wind isn't blowing more than usual . . . although that can be quite a bit this time of year.  Seems like all the campsites at elevation in the Guadalupes are very exposed (unless they have changed lately).  Must have something to do with maintaining the rare and unique, for Texas, ecosystem.  Go figure!

[The Trout Whisperer]

I am envious..........
I wanna go to!!!!!!!!!


take earplugs to help sleep if the wind decides to blow....  : )

[randell]

Weather for our Friday-Saturday overnighter of Guadalupe Peak looks AWESOME.  I'm just glad it is warming up some from today's temps.

[TheWildWestGuy]

Looks like you are going to freeze to death Randell.  You should probably subtract 10-15 degree's from the forecast at Salt Flat to make up for being at higher elevation.  Add in some wind chill from 20-30 mph winds and it's damn cold.  Might want to change your trip plan to something like:

"Try to heat Mtn House food but stove won't stay lit, eat semi-frozen Spam directly out of the can with numb fingers and try not to puke it back up again.  Lose tent and rainfly in high winds when they are "set down" unsecured on the ground by helpful but stupid hiking companion and the tent blowed off toward Pine Springs somewhere.   Spend night shivering in makeshift stone hole/grave trying to last until first light.  Contemplating homicide but decide I might need to eat one of my plump hiking companions later in the trip."

Sounds great Randell!

[Al]

In addition to virtually no protection from the wind, I don't remember any dirt to speak of at that campsite to drive stakes in to hold down the tent.  Can't wait for the trip report.  

I remember one year in the bowl about this time of year.  It was COLD!

Al

[jeffblaylock]

Not only will the details of your night in the howling wind be fun to read, I also can't wait for the part where the trail temporarily crosses the north face of the peak. You know, the part where there's a little defile that quickly turns into a steep drop and usually this time of year the trail is a sheet of ice. At least THAT part is sheltered from the wind, sort of.

It's a great trail and campsite, Randell, but all of us who've ever stayed there are insane. There's maybe 40 good weather days and nights on that peak a year, maybe. Everything else is wind, rain, cold, snow, lightning, wind, more lightning, and more wind. Take a free-standing tent and weight the hell out of it. IF the wind is calm, the views are the best in Texas. If not, well, the inside of your tent is nice to look at, too.

If I weren't pinned down by the Legislature, I'd be crazy enought to want to do this, weather forecast be damned!! HAVE FUN!