Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas

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BigNick21
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Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Post by BigNick21 »

I'm not sure how many people are familiar with this hike, but there is a final twenty-five foot vertical class three section. This was my first experience with class three, and I have only done a handful of climbs like that since. I'm just wondering if anyone else has done this climb and their thoughts on it. Looking back on it now, it was a spectacular experience and I wish that I hadn't been so scared, but I feel like the more I force myself to experience exposure I won't be so scared. It's kinda been a dream of mine to summit a lot of, if not all the Colorado 14ers, and I know some of them are class three and four, so I'd need to be comfortable with that kind of terrain. I've done what would be a class three move, but it's just been lacking in much exposure. I know from this that I'm physically able to do them, I just have to overcome the fear of falling I suppose. Anyways I was just wondering what people thought of that climb.
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Mtnman200
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Re: Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Post by Mtnman200 »

I’ve done Emory Peak twice (1970 and 2010) and enjoyed it both times. Some of it is more challenging than you’d expect, but it’s good practice.
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Re: Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Post by cougar »

I think that was my first class 3. A bit spicy, I remember the swifts flying too close and fast, the big crack between summit blocks, and a kid on a school trip had fallen to his death on that section some time earlier, I passed the memorial. It made news because no one knew it happened until they returned to the campground, and the trip leaders got some flack for it.
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Conor
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Re: Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Post by Conor »

I did it in sep 2017. I don't remember the "scramble" or even if there was a scramble. I do remember beautiful scenery and solitude. I was in pretty good hiking shape at the time and i started at about 6pm and made it back before dark. I hope to take the family down there to explore the area a bit more.
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Re: Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Post by zootloopz »

I've been up Emory 4 times between 2018 and 2020 thanks to formerly living in Austin TX.

The final scramble is definitely great practice for class 3 stuff in CO. Try both the left and right sides for training, even though the right is the official peak.

You can also head out to the Guadalupe Mountains and get off trail to hit El Capitan for some more route finding practice and potential class 3 if you search out the right lines. Staying near the western crest offers good exposure.
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Matt
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Re: Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Post by Matt »

Emory was probably my first class 3 peak. I did it twice in college and once again in 2017.
It provides a solid intro for folks looking to hit bigger peaks with easy scrambling
The final section seemed sketchy the first time, but not again. I think exposure gets easier for most folks with repetition.
I wouldn't say the last part of Wetterhorn is any harder than the last part of Emory.
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sfreytag
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Re: Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Post by sfreytag »

Did Emory back in November 2016 and it was a great hike. I didn't even realize it was Class 3 until now but looking back it makes sense to call that section Class 3. I felt much safer on Emory than some of the Class 3 14ers such as Sneffels, Needle, or Snowmass. Exposure seems to affect everyone differently. Longs and Wetterhorn didn't bother me at all but the summit ridge of Snowmass (West Slope route) really made me uncomfortable.
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Re: Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Post by stoopdude »

I hiked Emory two weeks ago, combined it with Toll Mountain and the loop to the South Rim, great hike, 15 miles or so. 80 degrees down there while it snowed in Denver, good stuff. Chisos Basin is a pretty cool place to camp if you can get a spot, the restaurant and bar at the lodge is a nice treat after a hike.
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Re: Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Post by pbergmaier »

My main memory of Emory is that the trail is unnecessarily long and circuitous
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