The Big Hike - Emory Peak

So the day arrived that we had been planning. I admit I was more than a little anxious about this hike. The trail is labeled "challenging" and I can now say that is and understatement. During the previous night I had been figuring time and distance compared to the hike to The Window. Let's see, the peak is 7825 feet and the Basin is 5300 feet. That makes 2500 feet UP, UP, UP! Hmmmm. Over a five mile trail that's roughly 500 feet rise per mile. And it took us three hours and 40 minutes to do the five-mile roundtrip to The Window, which is considered an easy trail. Yep, we should leave at 8 and not at 9 like we had originally planned so I can take it slow. Hopefully, I can make the peak by 1 PM and be back before dark. Definitely before dark.

My mind would not rest. Be sure to pack the camera, enough water, and food! Sandwiches, snacks, salty things like chips and boiled eggs with salt. Butch says to take a spare pair of socks. Check! Pack the headlamp which I hope and pray I won't need to use. Wear layers, take your hat! Be sure to put bandages on the wee toes to prevent blisters. Apply sunscreen! Oh, and get some sleep!

Well, we made it to the top, but you already knew that. We left at 8 and after only one hiccup to fix the sock seams that were rubbing the wee toes, we kept a steady slow pace up the Emory Peak trail. I did make stops about every .8 miles for rest and to get my breath back. I am no longer used to thin air. We stopped more frequently once we reached the rim of the basin and as we neared the peak. The trail was only a little steeper really, but much more rocky, no level ground whatsoever. Very tedious. I had to watch every foot fall to make sure I didn't slip. I had fallen on the snow packed trail on the north facing switchbacks. Nothing hurt but my pride. And getting up wasn't the least bit graceful!

Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, south vista.
Done that!!

So many people were on the trail and everyone was encouraging and helpful. We passed one couple in the snowy part on the north ascent, but they passed us when we stopped for a snack. We overtook them again when they were resting almost at the top. We could clearly see the peak which seemed deceivingly close. Butch kept saying, "It's just right there!" I took the moon picture during one of our rests and that same couple passed us to reach the peak several minutes ahead of us. They were kind enough to take our picture since we aren't very good a taking selfies. We arrived at the top in only 4 hours and 45 minutes!

Crescent moon over Emory Peak.

Emory Peak, north vista.

We stayed on top snapping pictures and chatting with the various hikers. There were several groups of five or more people. Some young men from LSU and Baylor ate MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) for their lunch. They looked good actually because they were hot food. We had sandwiches, chips, and cookies. (Kickin' it old school!) A group of hikers from UT-Austin swarmed the top for awhile, and a couple originally from Poland, now living in Louisiana also arrived. The woman was practically fearless and climbed even the rocky mound by the solar panel. I just watched her in amazement.

After eating and resting quite awhile we started our return hike. I am tempted to relate every painful step, but I will not. Suffice to say that the downward hike was harder than the upward hike. Maybe because I was expecting it to be easier and it was not. I fell on the ice two more times causing more damage to my already low moral. The last two miles Butch let me use his stick. The two sticks together, mine and his, helped support each step allowing my arms to do the work my legs and feet were too tired to do.

I am reminded of a scene from Robinhood, Prince of Thieves where Morgan Freeman's character Hazim is talking to Robinhood (Costner) after a fight with the sheriff's men. Hazim says, "You whine like a mule, but you are still alive!"

Yes, I am still alive! And after a hot bath I was even glad I made the trip. The Emory Peak trail took us ten hours and some minutes round trip. I did not have to use my headlamp!

I'll end this blog with this: Leaving the Chisos Basin early the next morning (not quite Oh Dark Thirty but close) I was driving to Panther Junction to stop to put air in the tires when I saw the mountain lion I had been looking for the whole trip. He was just disappearing into the brush on the left side of the road. I clearly saw his back end, legs, and tail. Butch missed it since he wasn't driving. Yep, I'm glad I made the trip.