Dumping Grounds

Well, today was dominated by the climb up Emory Peak. Emory is the tallest mountain in the Chisos Mountain Range, the tallest in the Big Bend National Park, and at an elevation of 7,832 ft, it is the 10th tallest named peak in Texas.

The hike itself is not brutal and can easily be done in 5-6 hours. There is a tremendously convenient bear proof locker about a mile and a half from the peak (before the steepest part of the climb) where you can stash the heaviest things in your pack, taking only what you need to get to the top, and you can pick up the rest of it on your way back down. If I had not torn up my foot, it probably would have only been in the range of â??moderately challenging.â? With a twisted ankle and a nasty bruise on my heel, it was a bit tougher than that.

The last 200 feet or so are over some pretty large rocks and boulders, and it’s fairly vertical. It’s not life threatening, by any means, but it certainly does look mean. the winds when we were there were pretty fierce, and it was cold as hell for those last 200 feet, but then, very surprisingly, it suddenly gets warmer and the winds are fairly calm when on the peak. I cannot explain it.

I’ll even admit it… between the wind, the cold, and my foot, I nearly gave up 30 feet from the top. Alan convinced me it was warmer at the top, so I managed to climb on up. He was right. and I am glad he convinced me, because that was one of the most impressive 360° views I have ever seen.

Some examples from the top… (there is a radio antenna at the top, it shows in one of the pics)