October 12th, 2024
After we woke up early and enjoyed a breakfast of cereals and muffins, we prepared sandwiches for lunch. Then we set off for Guadalupe Mountains National Park where we wanted to go hiking.
We split up into two groups: one heading to Hunter Peak and the other exploring McKittrick Canyon. We chose Hunter Peak. The way up was a scenic route with great views, but it was also very exhausting because the trail was steep and the ground was rocky. After hiking about 3h and 8.5 km with 800m up the hill we finally reached Hunter peak. The view from the top was fantastic, stretching out to the horizon.
We sat next to the drop off for lunch while waiting for the slower people including our teachers. The weather was good but the heat was tough; some people had to turn back with a ranger before reaching the top. The descent was steeper, but we made it down in just over two hours. The group that hiked McKittrick Canyon was waiting for us at the bus.
Afterward, we enjoyed dinner at a Chinese buffet, which tasted especially good after our hike. Tired but happy, we returned to the hotel and went to sleep, satisfied that the effort was worth the incredible views.
(Wilhelmine and Jan-Malte, 10.4)