Climbing Shumard Peak - Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX

[@Major-Steve]

Fantastic photography! I was there in November about 30 years ago and this video made me decide to a return trip this time next year. November is a very special time in this national park. Man that was a good video!

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

Hi Laser Wolf, thank you very much! We had a great time and really enjoyed the hike, and the clouds. It was a great time to be there, definitely, and I'm glad the video makes you want to return!

[@cactusrider7686]

Wow, epic climb and I love the off trail stuff. Good job getting great footage. I really enjoyed the clouds peeling over the peak..

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

Hi Andres, thank you, and that was a really fun hike. I had planned to do Shumard in the summer, but I ended up stopping at Bartlett peak and waiting. It was good since I got to do it with my brother and also witness the clouds. I like going off trail more. I just ordered a pair of snake gaiters, since I had a little scare in Phoenix that made me think about the risk of getting bitten more. More weight to carry, but I'm going to try them and see how things go. Thanks again!

[@bigbadlawdog]

When I was a young kid I was drawn to these mountains by a single picture of El Capitan in an Encyclopedia Britannica. I’ve sadly never been, although I backpack all over my home state of Tennessee. I am definitely backpacking the Guadalupes. I would love any tips you can give on off-trail/on-trail routes, especially the one took in your video. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

Hi Jason, the Guadalupe Mountains are an awesome place. There are a lot of trails there, and some of them are very little used if you like solitude. I would go off trail to El Capitan if you can. You go most of the way up the Guadalupe Peak trail and then head off trail down to the saddle and then out to El Capitan. I have a video of it - the day after this hike - but it was completely foggy the whole time. On the Shumard hike, definitely go to the summit of Guadalupe Peak first - don't go the way we did. I hiked the four highest peaks in Texas last year and my companion made a video of it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/emPagKWJja2FrMU . Going off trail isn't bad, and just stick to the least vegetated route even if it isn't the most direct way to where you want to go. I generally wear snake gaiters but I have yet to see a snake off trail there yet. Just make sure you have more water than you think you need. If you have any other questions let me know. Thanks for watching!

[@nace71]

Great video! I hiked Guadalupe Peak the day before on Thanksgiving. Skies were clear but the wind was pretty harsh.

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

Hi Nace, thank you. That was probably the windiest I've experienced there, but we were protected a lot. Sounds like you may have had some great views.

[@TexasDevin]

This video is a handy find. We are looking at bagging Bartlett and Shumard as they are the tallest ones in the park we have never hiked.

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

Hi Devin, I'm glad it was able to help you. Shumard and Bartlett are both fun peaks. I've been to both of them twice. I did each of them separately and then the 4 highest peaks in Texas another time. Thanks for watching!

[@charleswilliams9757]

Great video

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

Hi Charles, thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@sanborns]

My congrats. Wind is almost a constant in these mountains year around. It is more prevalent during the spring. Gotta love these wild places though.

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

Hi Sanborn, thank you. Yes, it seems like it is windy there all the time. Yes, I definitely enjoy going there and getting away from everything. Thanks for watching!

[@RVFishingAdventures]

Very nice... The video was decently done. The Guads were on our bucket list before but I think they just got bumped up. Good job!

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

Thank you! The Guadalupe Mountains are definitely my favorite place in TX. There's definitely a lot of solitude there if you take some of the less popular trails or go off trail. I have a long drive to get there but it is well worth it, and I try to make it out there every month or so now.

[@allen1411]

Awesome!

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

Hi Mark, the whole hike was pretty neat, and especially the cloud river. I'm glad we got to see that. Thanks for watching!

[@novicehiker6897]

So the pour offs in the wash were pretty manageable? I’m thinking about going up the way you went up down, then going to Bartlett, then to bush mountain trail and back. I finally dipped my toes into off trail travel last trip at dog canyon by doing a loop connecting pt 7625,7301 and tx state line HP. Super remote with insane views. You’d like it. made me excited to summit some new peaks on the pine springs side.

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

Hi Will, the major pour off will be the first one you come to after Devil's Hall. It will be the southern canyon, or the one to the left. We climbed down on what will be the left side for you going up. It's probably a 20-25 foot pour off, but I can't remember exactly. I think there were some trees that we used to help us climb around it. And after that, there was only one other pour off which we had to climb around on the right side. You can possibly take the canyon/wash up as far as you want, or climb out of it early to get to the eastern ridge of Shumard. I know about those other points but I haven't done them. I never made it back to Dog Canyon by car. Well, I hope you get to try it soon.

[@novicehiker6897]

@@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer for someone with no climbing experience, but in good shape, how would I be able to manage these little cliffs? Sorry for commenting so late, I’m just overthinking this hike lol

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

@@novicehiker6897 you won't have to climb the actual cliff, just the steep slope on the left side of it. You'll know it when you see the pour off and then just go to the left side and climb up there. There were some trees to grab onto, and I didn't feel in danger, just cautious. The next pour off you could maybe even climb straight up it, but if you go to the right of it it's very easy.

[@davidchapman9791]

@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer I going to do the quad, Never been there. Was curious where did you leave the Guadalupe peak trail. How long did it take you to get to Shumard Peak? Thanks for the video really shows the off trail well.

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

Hi David, we left the Guadalupe Peak trail further down, but it was a mistake, and we know we would have been better off just going up to the peak. A little west of Guadalupe peak is a good place to start off trail to Shumard. I hiked the four peaks later with someone else, and here is that video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/emPagKWJja2FrMU I can't remember how long it took us to get to Shumard. I think it was around an hour and a half. You're welcome, and thanks for watching.

[@davidchapman9791]

@@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer Thanks I saw that video before, didn't realize you were the beast in that one. So you pretty much stayed close to the ridge?

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

@@davidchapman9791 we stayed pretty close to the ridge when we could, other times we were away from it a little bit. Different ways work, depending on where the vegetation leads you, but the ridge is pretty neat to see.

[@nickdyess581]

Me and my friend went up to Guadalupe peak a couple months back. Mostly I felt like I needed to challenge myself, partly physically, but mostly mentally. I have a big fear of heights, but I made it. Man it kicked my back side, it showed me how out of shape I am, but now I'm looking for the next challenge. How far do you think it is to shumard total one way?

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

Hi Nick, I think it is about 1.7 miles to Shumard from Guadalupe Peak. Here is the link to the GPS when I did the four highest peaks together: www.strava.com/activities/2364427061. I'm not sure the distance if you go down into the canyon and back to Devil's Hall, but that is the easiest way down if you just want to do Shumard. Thanks for watching and if you have any other questions let me know.

[@nickdyess581]

@@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer cool, thanks for the reply. I might do that one next in a couple months maybe 👍

[@ZacharyTeich-HikingTrainer]

@@nickdyess581 you're welcome. Definitely try it if you can. It is an awesome hike and peak, plus going down the canyon is great too.