Reaching the Summit: The Means Family Climb to Guadalupe Peak

From top left, Hal and Aline Means with son and daughter, Christopher and Charlotte, at the summit of Guadalupe Peak - the highest in Texas - on Labor Day weekend, a follow-up to Hal and Charlotte's father-daughter climb of Mt. Whitney. 

When Labor Day weekend comes to mind, many envision backyard BBQs, hanging out on sunny beaches or just relaxing with friends and family. The Means family spent their Labor Day weekend in a less relaxing, but very fulfilling way – they challenged themselves to climb Guadalupe Peak in west Texas, the highest peak in the state. 

The experience was particularly rewarding, as Hal, a former Boy Scout, took his daughter Charlotte to climb Mount Whitney in California earlier this summer. They were accompanied by friend and neighbor Reagan Kimzey and her father Shane. The trek was inspired by a book that Charlotte was reading, No Summit Out of Sight, and the experience was “amazing,” said Charlotte, but frustrating, too, because they ultimately weren’t able to complete the climb for safety reasons. (Read Travel Buzz for more details.)

So the fact that the four members of the Means family – Hal, Aline, Charlotte and Christopher - reached the summit this Labor Day weekend was even more special. “It was a thrill to reach the summit and the preparation and training we did earlier this summer for our trip to Mt. Whitney in California paid off for this climb,” said Hal. 

Christopher and Charlotte Means made it to the summit of Guadalupe Peak with their parents.

The Guadalupe Peak climb was more challenging than they expected due to the steep bottom and high temperatures early in the morning, said Hal. But the altitude didn’t affect them much, since it’s lower (at 8,751 feet) than Mount Whitney (14,508). The kids described the hike, saying some parts are narrow and run along “hair-raising cliffs,” but that there’s a “cool bridge to cross,” and much of the trail is shaded. In the valley, they spotted hawks circling and at the top, the views were “stunning and it was a big payoff after climbing for about four hours.”

As they started their descent, a thunderstorm rolled in, which continued for about an hour as they hiked down, so they were glad they were prepared with rain jackets. 

“The Guadalupe Mountains National Park area is beautiful with lots of wildlife and flora that you can't imagine are found in Texas,” Hal said. Their experience created incredible family memories. 

Read about Hal and Charlotte’s trek to Mount Whitney with Reagan and Shane Kimzey, plus practical tips for getting prepared for a hike and choosing the right gear.