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| The Bowl   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Texas, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 31.94590°N / 104.8239°W Route Type: Trail and Bushwack Time Required: Most of a day Difficulty: Class 1 and 2
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| Page By: truchas Created/Edited: Dec 6, 2004 / Dec 6, 2004 Object ID: 163136 Hits: 930 Loading... Page Score: 86.04% - 1 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Approach
The trailhead to the base of the peak starts at Pine Springs, the headquarters for Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Pine Springs is located in west Texas on U.S. 62/180 110 miles east of El Paso and 55 miles southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico. There are no food, gas, or lodging services in Pine Springs. Don't show up with an empty tank. This is one of the most isolated parks in the lower 48.
The trailhead is about 1/4 of a mile up from the park headquarters where the road dead ends in a parking lot.
Route Description
Elevation Gain (does not include several ups and downs): 2600 ft.
Round Trip Distance: 12.5 miles
If you choose to do this as an overnighter, use Pine Top Backcountry Camp.
Hike 3 and 1/2 miles up the steep and sometimes switchbacking Tejas Trail to the intersection of the Bowl Trail and the Bush Mountain Trail. Make a right turn on the Bowl Trail and hike approximately 3/4 mile to the first intersection. Make a left turn and hike approximately 1mile to the intersectin of the Juniper Trail. Continue hiking along the Bowl Trail approimately 1/4 of a mile to the place where the Bowl Trail makes a sharp turn southeast (right).
At this point you will leave the trail. Bushwack due north (bring a compass) along a dry creek through the lower sections of The Bowl. You will pass by an old cabin on your left. Continue on another 1/4 mile and angle up and right (north) through the forest and up onto a ridge (I'll call it Pratt Ridge). Near the first highpoint you will want to stay to the left of the ridge to avoid some nasty thornbushes along the ridgecrest.
Continue along this ridge and down a bit below Mt. Pratt which will be on your right. Leave the ridge and angle to your right straight up to the windblown summit of Mt. Pratt.
Essential Gear
It is highly recommended that you wear long pants. The limestone is very rough, so high top shoes or boots are recommended.
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