The Tallest Mountains in Texas

After days and days of driving across some of the flattest terrain in America, I was keen to see the parts of Texas that are not flat, namely the highest point in the state.

I should know by now never to plan a hiking excursion without leaving some extra days for weather contingencies, especially in the wild western deserts of Texas. I traveled to  Guadalupe Mountains National Park with every intention to scale the highest peak in the state, Guadalupe Peak (8,751 ft).

Alas, when I left the rolling sea of dry grass and dirt, the winds were blowing some 50-60 mph. The air was filled with brown and yellow dust, blanking out the sky, while rain clouds floated overhead, sometimes hiding, sometimes showing off the great and glorious sun above me. Obviously, conditions like these are unsafe for climbing high mountains BUT, they are absolutely perfect for taking pictures.

Bracing myself against the dusty gusts of big Texas wind, I captured these shots of the Guadalupe Mountains and the nearby salt flats in the midst of an impressive dust storm. I was amazed by the tremendous beauty of this lesser-known national park and am eager to return in better weather so that I can hike up the trail to the top of the highest peak in Texas.