The Guadalupe Mountains are one of the earth’s best examples of an ancient marine reef. Geologists come to these mountains from all around the world to marvel at their natural beauty. Most believe these formations formed approximately 250 million years ago in the geologic period know as the Permian. From the 17th to the 19th century, the Guadalupe Mountains were the exclusive domain of a small group of Mescalero Apaches known as the Nde. The Nde roamed these lands hunting mule deer, elk, and bighorn sheep, as well as harvesting plants like agave, sotol, and bear grass. The nomadic Mescaleros ranged over vast areas and followed the changing seasons. That is until 1858 when the U.S. Army began an aggressive …