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How is Guadalupe in March?

PostPosted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:04 pm
by maddie77777
I've read that spring break can bring a lot of people to this mountain. The weather seems like it would be pretty nice in March, but I don't really want to deal with lots of spring break crowds. Would I be better off going in late February? Exactly how big are these spring break crowds? Also, when is the spring break period in the West Texas area?

PostPosted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:55 am
by Day Hiker
I always thought Texas' spring break location was the beaches, like South Padre Island. I'm surprised to learn that spring breakers go to the mountains of west Texas. The temperatures should be great for hiking in March, though, unless there is a storm or a recent cold front.

PostPosted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:53 pm
by jeffh25
March is a pretty good time to do Guadalupe Peak. The weather can be all over the place though. I did it in late March and we started off around 35 degrees in jackets and finished in shorts and t-shirts in the low 80's. Wind could be a problem too, you get 70-80 mph gusts there.
As for Spring Break, it's usually around the 3rd week of March and it just depends on how crowded, "crowded" is to you. I'd say on a weekend there's going to be 10-15 people on the summit and maybe 30-40 on the trail at any given time. Your biggest Spring Break issue might be finding a place to stay. If you plan on camping, the Pine Springs campground at the base only has about 20 spots and fills up fast. Plus it's pretty cramped and regulated. (no campfires) A better option might be just up the road (20 min'ish) in New Mexico on Bureau of Land Management land. A Guadalupe Park Ranger told me I could do, "Whatever the hell I wanted on the BLM." I hope that helps and just holler at me if you need anything else.

PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:04 am
by maddie77777
Thanks, Jeff. That's exactly what I was looking for. My initial plan was going to be to try and fly to El Paso, drive to Guad, then hike up to the high peak campground. However, I don't think that' s possible. I'm not even sure I can get to the ranger station by 4 before the ranger station closes, so that BLM may be my only option.

PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 1:07 am
by Stu Brandel
Went to Guadalupe NP one spring break with my family few years ago. Mornings were chilly and windy but warmed up nicely. The desert wildflowers were spectacular, fragrantly coating the plains with yellow velvet when viewed from on high. There was nothing approaching a crowd. We flew into El Paso. We stayed near Carlsbad Caverns (a pretty deserted Best Western) and enjoyed both parks.

PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:56 am
by jeffh25
Yeah the BLM's nothing but scrub, dirt and leftover salt but you could get a spot where you don't even see your neighbors, if you have any. That and it's free. It's just a few miles into NM on the road between Guadalupe and Carlsbad on the right if you're headed north.

PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:32 am
by rics
I've been to Guadalupe NP three times. It's a huge disappointment. I guarantee that you will have wind, wind, wind. It will ruin your trip. There's numerous places in the southwest that are far superior. (The Gila Wilderness, The Chiricahuas, Saguaro National Park,).
Ric

PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:37 am
by rics
Guadalupe NP is one of the most disappointing National Parks in the NPS system. I guarantee the wind will blow, blow, and blow the whole time you are there. There are numerous places in teh Southwest in the spring that are superior - Gila Wiilderness,
Chiricahuas, Saguaro NP, Big Bend,.
Ric

PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:59 pm
by maddie77777
Thanks, rics. I'm from Chicago, so I can handle the wind, and I was hiking in 100+ mph winds on Mt Washington in NH and loved it. I know there are probably better parks out there, but my sister and I have wanted to try Guadalupe, since it will mark the highest peak we've tried to summit.

I guess I'll have to either try the BLM area, or head to that sketchy Best Western mentioned b/w Carlsbad and Guad.

Anyone ever visited the White Sands National Monument? It looks interesting, and I could pass through coming back from Roswell. Any other sights or attractions I should look into in this general area?

PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:27 pm
by hoser23
HI Maddie.
I recommend a visit to the New Mexico Museum of Space History. http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/index.php
It is very close to White Sands. Very cool place.

PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:34 pm
by Stu Brandel
You asked aboout White Sands. Definitely worth a hike (though the ability to sled down the dunes on waxed saucers is a bit overrated). If you are circling up in that area from Guadalupe NP you could do what we did over the course of a Spring Break: Guadalupe, Carlsbad, a stop in Lincoln NM (Billy the Kid town still well preserved), Cloudcroft (snowy ski town with some hiking nearby), White Sands, coming back down south through Las Cruces/Mesilla (Organ Mountains, beautiful hiking - Cool town).

Yes, we had high winds almost every day that March.

Guadalupe

PostPosted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:24 pm
by Jessicahiker
Spring break in 2010 is March 12-19th. There are always people at the peak. Mid-Late February might be your best bet.

PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:15 pm
by maddie77777
Thanks to all for the replies. I'll be headed to Guadalupe April 9-10th. I wish now that I had booked in February, but I went with April instead as a birthday present to myself. We'll be hitting Carlsbad, Roswell (just to say we did), we'll hit that Billy the Kid town, and stop at White Sands and then Las Cruces before flying back. I'm psyched!

PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:21 pm
by maddie77777
Awesome, thanks for the advice. Honestly, we're only staying in Roswell b/c I'm a Marriott rewards member, and I'll either get a free night there, or I'll get the points for it, I haven't decided yet. It was the only Marriott close to where we'll be, so I'll go for it. I'll check out Riudoso and see if we can work that in instead of either Lincoln, or perhaps Roswell entirely. How long does that peak you mentioned take?

Guad Mtns NP

PostPosted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:18 pm
by tularosa
I have hiked in all of the places mentioned above by Ric and I cannot disagree more strongly with his comment about Guadalupe Mountains National Park being a disappointment. It has it all: incredible beauty, great history, a variety of hiking opportunities, and wonderful solitude. The limited public access has kept the wilderness nearly pristine. The winds are usually at their worst in the spring (March thru June). Otherwise, the conditions tend to be variable but quite manageable.