Guadalupe Peak and El Capitan

At 8085-feet, El Capitan in Texas has an easily detected profile that is visible for many dozens of miles. Just as notable is the summit to its north (left in the image): Guadalupe Peak, and at 8749-feet, the highest point in Texas. On the day I shot this photo, I first saw El Capitan almost eighty miles to the west. The winds were very high this day, with winds to fifty, and with a forecast of gusts of 110 miles per hour for later that afternoon! The clouds above the mountains are an indication of the micro-climates that can occur over this plateau that is mostly surrounded by desert. Around me were quite clear skies--except that formation that lingered over the Guadalupes. The plants in the foreground are Soaptree Yuccas (Yucca elata). Imaged in December 2009.