Emory Peak ~ Big Bend NP

I am way behind in blog posts…We are no longer in Big Bend National Park..

We are no longer in Texas…but that’s another story.

I want to show you photos from our hike up Emory Peak in Big Bend National Park.         

What a hike!

Jeff and I hiked some of this trail four years ago.

We hiked Laguna meadows, the Colima trail to South rim and back down the Pinnacle trail.

This time we decided to hike up the Pinnacle trail to Mt. Emory then take the Colima trail to Laguna meadows and back down to the car.

Below is the view on our drive to the trailhead.

 

I used my Bad Elf to track our route..We thought it was just going to be a 12 mile hike..ended up being 15.

           

             Duration:

9:49:58
Distance:
15 miles
Minimum Latitude:
29.241220° N
Maximum Latitude:
29.270586° N
Minimum Longitude:
103.312103° W
Maximum Longitude:
103.293213° W
Average Speed:
1.2 mph
Maximum Speed:
5.1 mph

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our hike started at the Chisos basin trailhead.

Pinnacle trail..

The trail wasn’t as bad as I remembered it.

It was a steady uphill but nothing too difficult.

On the side of the trail we happened upon this cactus just starting to burst forth in bloom.

I am pointing to the peak we will be hiking to…

Mt Emory

Emory Peak, located in Big Bend National Park, is the highest peak in the Chisos Mountains.

 

As we gain elevation we start to get some nice views.

Jeff is always hiking ahead of me..

I am very slow going up hill.

more views as we hike up the Pinnacle trail

We met a nice couple and chatted a bit about RVing ~they had thought it might be a fun thing for them to do and we agreed and answered their questions on our RVing lifestyle...

Then uphill we go..

It was windy the previous day and the dust was still hampering the view..

A distant view of The Boot..

The Boot..

The Pinnacle trail meets Emory Peak trail….

Stairmaster

This was indeed a workout..

I stopped frequently to catch my breath.

Finally near the top..

See the solar panel on the upper left…some people climb the rock to that point.

I decided to climb the rocky area to the right..

see the people below me…

Once up and in an area I felt secure, I start taking photos of the view..

It felt good to be able to climb this peak..well, just shy of the summit… The extra five feet or so to the summit was a bit too frightening for me to climb .. it would have been a rock scramble to get there with shear drops around me.

We hung out had lunch and chatted with the others at the peak.

Then downward…

See the trail cutting through the mountain on the left side…

Mexican Jay..

We continue on the trail heading south..

Another view of The Boot..

We had thought of continuing to the South Rim but it was getting late and we wouldn’t have enough time.

We take the Colima trail.

The hike is starting to wear me down…

and it seems longer than what I had expected..

I complain to Jeff about every mile or so..

Whenever the trail climbs I complain..

thinking it should be all downhill ..

Some nice views to ease my pain..

More trail..

Never ending..

at least that’s how it seems..

On and on and on…we hike..

Until finally signs of civilization!

I was exhausted!

15 miles ~ done!!

Jeff and I agreed there is no need to repeat this hike..

at least not the Emory Peak part.

We might still hike to South Rim..of course by the time we get back to Big Bend, we may be too old and need to take the escalator to the top!