5-26 Guadalupe Mt. NP










































 I started the day with a one mile hike around the RV park.  We are basically literally just off the main road where 10 spots are used by short term campers and RVs  Further in there is a large section for tent camping  they even get grass. As I walked around I found a path that lead to a gate which went 3.7 miles up to the Carlsbad Caverns visitors center. I turned around because Dennis had no way of contacting me and I had no water. Circling around the tenting area I came upon a snake, maybe 8feet away. I’m pretty sure it was a Ridge nose rattler, but he didn’t rattle or react to me so I just kept going. The back section of this park looked like long term residents so I headed back home.

Today we took off down the highway about 33 miles back into Texas. The Guadalupe Mountain National park is located there. The visitor’s center had a great display of animals and plants. (Sorry didn’t take pictures) I learned the Jack rabbit is 3x the size of normal rabbits. We walked a short trail that lead to what was a stagecoach station. It turns out that the first stagecoach and mail delivery system from California to St. Louis, MO traveled through here. It was called the Butterfield stage route. They guaranteed delivery in 25 days. Stage coach stops were about every 20 miles and the coaches seated 9.  No thank you. 

The main sight from the park is El Capitan. Quite impressive, but I had no desire to do a strenuous 11.3 mile hike (6-8 hours).  Enjoyed the short hike we did take, only animal was a small collared lizard but I doubt you can see it in the picture. Short day’s report and back home again. The cat was glad to have us back.


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