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Feb 25, 2022 — Almost 8 years since my first visit to Big Bend National Park, I finally got a chance to return, this time with peaks being the objective rather than sightseeing. I started the trip off with Emory Peak, the high of the Chisos Mountains and of the National Park. I figured it couldn't hurt to have a nice trail hike to start and to scope the surrounding peaks from high above.
I parked at the large parking lot near the Chisos Lodge and took the Pinnacles Trail as it lead through forest and occasional meadows. Casa Grande Peak came into view, and as I got higher up so did others. I was getting quite excited for the area. The trail is really well-marked and an incredibly low angle, really taking its time to meander and switchback up to the saddle separating Emory Peak from Toll Mountain. Before reaching this saddle the trail entered a more interesting section of pinnacles, which framed the views back down into Chisos Basin.
From the saddle I continued on the Emory Peak Trail as it took its sweet time to make it to the base of the summit. The last few hundred feet of the trail had some light Class 2, and the summit block had some Class 2+/3 that had at least one party in need of some coaxing. The rock quality is excellent and the scrambling fun, though short-lived. And of course the views from Emory Peak are delightful. I could see pretty much all my peak objectives for the trip. I didn't linger long, the crowded summit area not exactly my favorite atmosphere.
Back at the saddle with Toll Mountain, I took the short and official trail to the Toll Mountain Campsite and then continued off-trail along the burned ridgeline and up to the summit of Toll Mountain. This portion might be considered Class 2 due to the steepness, and it's definitely more work than the highway that was the approach trail, but the terrain is not rugged and there weren't any sections of scrambling. The summit of Toll Mountain had some nice views toward Crown Mountain to the northeast, Emory Peak, and down into Chisos Basin.
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