May 28, 2004 - May 31, 2004 Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Friday May 28, 2004

Friday after work, I stopped by my house, loaded my backpack and
overnight bag into the trunk of my Mercury Sable, and headed west on
US290. I stopped in Ozona at 'The Cafe Next Door' for a quick supper
and continued to Fort Stockton, and stayed at the Deluxe Motel. I set
the alarm on the clock radio to wake me up at 6 AM.

Saturday May 29, 2004

I woke with the alarm, and drove up US 285 to Pecos, where I filled
the car with gas at Flying J truck stop. I bought a cup of coffee at
the Allsup's in Pecos, and continued north, eating a bagel with the
coffee. As I drove, I pondered which backcountry campsite to hike
into. I wasn't feeling in prime condition, so settled on Wilderness
Ridge, as site I hadn't camped at before and that is on Camp
Wilderness Ridge in the northernmost section of the national park,
along the New Mexico state line. I turned west onto 652 at Orla, then
south on US 62/180, and continued south to the National Park
headquarters. At the park headquarters, I bought some postcards to
use as QSL cards, and got a permit to camp at Wilderness Ridge for 2
nights. I asked about the weather, and learned that high winds were
forcast. 

I drove up to the McKittrick Canyon Ranger Station, and filled my
water bottles. The park service volunteer at the Ranger Station
reminded me to attach my backcountry permit to my pack (which I almost
forgot to do), paid the $3 trail fee, and started up the Permian Reef
trail. The wind gusts were very strong, and I had some difficulty
walking up the trail and keeping my hat on. The trail ascended several
switchbacks up Camp Wilderness Ridge near the mouth of McKittrick
Canyon, and I stopped several times for water, to rest, and to cool
off in the shade of some rocks.

Eventually, I reached the top of Camp Wilderness Ridge, where there
were a few trees along the trail to help provide some shade. I
continued west along the trail, and eventually came to the sign
indicating the Wilderness Ridge campsite. I found there were 5 tent
pads at this site, and selected one that was separated a little from
the others and that seemed to provide some shelter from the wind. I
put my Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight tent up, and then set about
suspending my amateur radio antenna (a 40 meter end fed half wave)
from a couple pine trees. The wind made it pretty difficult to get a
rock with a trailing parachute cord thrown over a limb, but I did
eventually get it up, and over a good limb 25-30 feet up. The winds
were still pretty strong, one gust nearly flattening my tent, and
tearing a joint in one of my tent poles. I explored the area around
the campsite a little, and enjoyed the view overlooking McKittrick
Canyon. I was the only person camped at the Wilderness Ridge
primitive campsite.

I prepared and my supper (dried black bean soup), and washed dishes. I
listened on my 40 meter RockMite to see about trying to make some
contacts, but there was a major contest in progress, and the
interference was very heavy, so I turned in for the night.

Sunday May 30, 2004

In the morning, I woke and had a mug of oatmeal. I powered up my 40
meter RockMite later in the morning, called 'CQ', and had an enjoyable
QSO with K7GJX/7, Doug, who was camped southeast of Tucson and west of
Lordsburg, NM. He was running 25 watts from a Kenwood TS130. I later
tried to make another contact, but didn't have any luck raising
anyone. I listened on my 20 meter RockMite, but the band was full of
contesters.

I decided to go for a day hike, so I packed some trail food and water
in my backpack, and hiked west on the trail along the top of Camp
Wilderness Ridge. I came to the Texas New Mexico State line, and
passed through the turnstile there into the Guadalupe Ranger District
of the Lincoln National Forest. A short distance into the National
Forest, the trail widened into a four-wheel-drive road. Here I met a
couple riding an all-terrain vehicle. I continued hiking west to the
road junction where the road along Camp Wilderness Ridge meets a road
from North McKittrick Canyon, and I continued west along the North
McKittrick Canyon Road. I heard someone shooting a rifle up the road,
so elected to turn back and head back toward camp. I stepped a little
off the road and had a rest stop and snack while overlooking North
McKittrick Canyon. The couple passed again on their all terrain
vehicle, so guessed they were camped with the person practicing with
the rifle. I returned to the road and made my way back to camp.

I enjoyed a supper of dried split pea soup, and in the evening tried
making another contact on my 40 meter RockMite. I was answered by
K7GJX/7 again, who mentioned I still had a good signal in southern
Arizona. The contest had ended, so the frequency wasn't as
crowded. Tried to make another contact, but didn't have any luck. I
walked slowly along the trail on Camp Wilderness Ridge, and sat down
on the edge of ridge, and watched the view over McKittrick
Canyon. Watched as the park service volunteer drove away from the
McKittrick Canyon Ranger Station and out to the highway. Later went
back to camp and turned in for the evening.

Monday May 31, 2004

Monday morning, I woke early, took down my tent and amateur radio
antenna, and broke camp. Loaded everything into my backpack and
started down the trail. Didn't encounter anyone until I got close to
the McKittrick Canyon Ranger station. There was a group from the UT
Geology Department on a field trip to study Permian Reef. I loaded
everything in the trunk of my car and started back. Stopped in Pecos
for lunch at Alfredo's Mexican Restaurant, and bought gas at
Allsup's. Returned to Dripping Springs following the usual route along
IH10 and US 290.