Over Exertion

Bright Idea: Visiting Carlsbad Caverns

Crazy Idea: Trying to run all the way out, a distance of 1.2 miles with over 800 feet of gain

Bright Idea: Climbing to the top of the tallest peak in Texas, in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Crazy Idea: Starting at 6:22pm and trying to get to the top before sundown (8.2 miles round trip and over 3,000 feet of elevation gain)

Bright Idea: Taking a day off from climbing

Crazy Idea: Hiking Sitting Bull Falls, Carlsbad Caverns, and Guadalupe Mountains all in the same day

Although it was serious overload, we succeeded on all fronts. I passed over 70 people on my way out of the caverns, and we reached the top of Guadalupe Peak while the sun was still fully above the horizon (the climb took 1 hour and 32 minutes).

John about halfway up our strenuous hike to the top of Guadalupe Peak. Unfortunately, my phone died right as we reached the top, so I couldn’t get any photographic proof of our accomplishment.

However, the next day we woke up to aching muscles, foot blisters, and complete and utter exhaustion. We made a half-hearted attempt to climb at Hueco Tanks – a place deservedly known for the best bouldering in the world – but could barely make the short hike to the climbing areas. Although the conditions were far better than our previous visit – which consisted of 105 degree weather and swarms of tarantula hawks – our weary bodies resisted all activity and we only did a few climbs.

One of my all time favorite climbs: Nobody Here Gets Out Alive, V2.

A more accurate depiction of how I felt at Hueco Tanks. Every climb looked daunting and I just wanted to stay sitting.

And the exhaustion wasn’t going away.

Three days later – after taking a ‘library day’ – we only climbed one route at the Organ Mountains in New Mexico (and by ‘we’ I really mean John… I didn’t climb anything). That route, however, was unforgettable. It was supposedly a 5.9 trad route, although we later learned that most people only climb it on top rope, and it’s much harder than its rating implies.

John’s first attempt to follow their recommended route resulted in him falling on an extremely old quarter inch star drive bolt. Miraculously, it held. He then tried an alternative path up the climb, which required him to squeeze into a chimney that looked impossibly small. He gradually inched his way up the incredibly narrow cavity, praying there would be an exit at the top as it was impossible to place any protection.

The red circle shows where John crawled inside of the rock. He proceeded to climb up within the narrow chimney for at least 20 feet, and was never close enough to the outside to even stick a hand out.

By the time he made it safely to the top, it was well past the park’s closing time. If only we’d had the energy to get moving before 1pm…

A view of the Organ Mountains (and John) from within La Cueva.