Another Walk in the Park: Guadalupe Mountains National Park

The first time we went to Guadalupe Mountains, we didn't go. Shirley called ahead to find out if there were any campsites available. The ranger said there were plenty of sites--but don't come. The wind is blowing 70 mph.
The next year, things were much better. A little nippy up in the mountains at the end of February but we were nice and snug in the RV. Shirley met some young women in the restroom who were not quite so happy. They asked if we had any Coleman stove fuel we could let them have. Certainly, said Shirley come over to our site. Conversation revealed that they were part of a group of bicyclists riding diagonally across the country from Florida to Washington. Also sleeping in tents small enough to be transported by bicycle. But the group had split up with plans to reunite in Albuquerque. Trouble was, one group had the stove and the other group had the stove fuel.
If you consult your atlas, you will notice that Guadalupe is way out at the far western tip of Texas. The cyclists were headed to El Paso--111 miles across desert where there are no towns and no sources of water--and then north to Albuquerque. And while you are in your atlas, note that there is no way to continue from Albuquerque to Washington without crossing mountains that were still shining bright with snow. They had been living on beans and rice for a long time. And now they couldn't even cook their beans and rice. Ah, youth!

So Shirley said, "It's my birthday. Help me celebrate."
She kept running to our refrigerator. Will anybody eat leftover mac and cheese? Oh, yeah! How about some garlic stuffed olives? Oh, yeah. Summer sausage? Marinated mushrooms? Triscuits and cheddar? Are you 21? How about a glass of wine? It was the best birthday party she has ever had.
All the cyclists were really happy to get even a little something other than beans and rice. Except one young man. He had heard that, if you are lost in the desert, you can survive by cutting open a cactus to get moisture and enough nourishment to keep you alive. So he gave it a try. Soon discovered that he'd prefer to die. He was losing mass quantities of precious bodily fluids from both ends of his alimentary canal.
The next time we were at Guadalupe, there were ranger cars with flashers blocking the access road. Only letting people in if they had reservations for camping or trail permits. The place was full but the ranger said he would check with the camp host just in case. He said no. But his wife said, "Oh, we'll find a way to squeeze them in." Which she did because the "campground" is literally a parking lot.
We learned that the place was packed because some kids on spring break down at Padre Island had told their friends that Guadalupe Mountains has wonderful hiking trails. Word spread very quickly--even though you would not think that college kids at the beach would give that up to freeze in the mountains. Ah, youth!
The message is, even though you may have never heard of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, lots and lots of people have. Call ahead to confirm that you can get in when you arrive. One more cautionary note: Spring break used to be the week after Easter; now it can, and does, come any time from late February until late April. Students somewhere are on "spring break" while Ohioans are under the impression it is still winter.