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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Guadalupe Peak
Guadalupe Peak, also known as Signal Peak, is the highest natural point in Texas, with an elevation of 8,751 feet (2,667 m) above sea level. It is located in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and is part of the Guadalupe Mountains range in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas. The mountain is about 90 miles (140 km) east of El Paso and about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico. The peak rises more than 3,000 feet (910 m) above the arid floor of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Trail and summit

The peak can be climbed at any time of the year by a maintained stony trail (4.25 miles or 6.8 kilometers each way) with a 3,000-foot (910 m) elevation gain. The trail is part of the network of hiking trails in the surrounding national park.

A stainless steel pyramid marks the summit. It was erected by American Airlines in 1958 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Butterfield Overland Mail, a stagecoach route that passed south of the mountain. One side of the pyramid has the American Airlines logo. The second side displays a U.S. Postal Service tribute to the Pony Express Riders of the Butterfield Stage. The third side displays a compass with the logo of the Boy Scouts of America.

A hiker was found dead on New Year's Eve 2022, as there were wind gusts of more than 50 miles (80 km) per hour and wind chills were "well below freezing".

"At nearly 9,000 feet (2,700 m) above sea level, Guadalupe Peak is a mountain environment with associated risks not found elsewhere in Texas," the park said, noting that the hike is a "very strenuous, 8.4-mile (13.5 km) round trip hike with a 3,000-foot (910 m) elevation gain" to the highest point in the state.

Climate

Guadalupe Peak has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb). Interpolated climate data based on surrounding stations is presented below:

Climate data for Guadalupe Peak 31.8933 N, 104.8575 W, Elevation: 8,189 ft (2,496 m) (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 45.0
(7.2) 		46.8
(8.2) 		52.3
(11.3) 		58.7
(14.8) 		66.8
(19.3) 		75.3
(24.1) 		73.9
(23.3) 		72.2
(22.3) 		67.4
(19.7) 		61.1
(16.2) 		52.7
(11.5) 		45.6
(7.6) 		59.8
(15.5)
Daily mean °F (°C) 36.2
(2.3) 		37.4
(3.0) 		42.5
(5.8) 		48.6
(9.2) 		57.0
(13.9) 		64.9
(18.3) 		64.5
(18.1) 		63.5
(17.5) 		58.7
(14.8) 		52.0
(11.1) 		43.4
(6.3) 		36.8
(2.7) 		50.5
(10.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 27.4
(−2.6) 		28.1
(−2.2) 		32.7
(0.4) 		38.5
(3.6) 		47.2
(8.4) 		54.4
(12.4) 		55.1
(12.8) 		54.8
(12.7) 		50.0
(10.0) 		42.9
(6.1) 		34.2
(1.2) 		28.0
(−2.2) 		41.1
(5.1)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.66
(17) 		0.84
(21) 		0.71
(18) 		0.43
(11) 		1.10
(28) 		1.79
(45) 		4.21
(107) 		4.23
(107) 		3.48
(88) 		1.56
(40) 		1.12
(28) 		0.96
(24) 		21.09
(534)
Source: PRISM Climate Group
  • View west from top of peak.
    View west from top of peak.
  • Salt Flats from summit.
    Salt Flats from summit.
  • Guadalupe Mountains in sunset.
    Guadalupe Mountains in sunset.
  • Hiking trail up the peak.
    Hiking trail up the peak.
  • High elevation (8,100 feet (2,500 m)) campground near summit.
    High elevation (8,100 feet (2,500 m)) campground near summit.
  • Culberson County, Texas, from the summit.
    Culberson County, Texas, from the summit.
  • The pyramid at the summit.
    The pyramid at the summit.

See also

References

  1. ^ "El Capitan". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved May 24, 2001.
  2. ^ "Guadalupe Peak, Texas". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved May 24, 2001.
  3. ^ "GUADALUPE PEAK". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. June 15, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  4. ^ "Elevations and Distances in the United States". United States Geological Survey. April 29, 2005. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
  5. ^ "Guadalupe Mountains: Guadalupe Peak Hike" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  6. ^ "Hiker found dead on Guadalupe Mountains trail that leads to highest peak in Texas".
  7. ^ "A hiker was found dead on Texas' Guadalupe Peak".
  8. ^ "One hiker died, another rescued from El Capitan Peak in Guadalupe Mountains".
  9. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Retrieved December 11, 2023. To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.
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