Dallas entrepreneur Evan Godwin sets the fastest known ascent of Texas’ highest peak in a full banana costume, reaching the 8,751-foot summit in 2:17 and bringing smiles, surprise, and unforgettable moments to hikers along the trail.
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, Texas – Dallas-area entrepreneur and adventurer Evan Godwin, 35, achieved a historic and delightfully unconventional milestone today by completing the first unassisted ascent of Guadalupe Peak — the tallest point in Texas — in a full banana costume, finishing with an ascent time of 2 hours and 17 minutes. The 8,751-foot summit — the highest elevation in Texas — also now stands as the current world record for the fastest known ascent of a state high point with an ascent of 2,900 feet or greater in a banana costume.
Godwin reached the 8,751-foot high point at 11:00 a.m. local time, after a sustained push up the steep, rocky trail that gains thousands of feet of elevation from the trailhead. Along the way, he drew smiles and double-takes from fellow hikers, many of whom stopped to ask whether he had “lost a bet.” At the summit, one hiker — coincidentally holding an empty banana peel — apologized for not “committing to the bit” and posed for a celebratory photo with Godwin.
A Dallas-based entrepreneur known for creative ventures across real estate, coworking, and product innovation, Godwin said the idea was born out of a desire to combine humor, grit, and adventure.
“I’ve always believed life is better when you choose the path that makes you smile — even if it makes everyone else stare,” Godwin said after the record-setting ascent. “This climb was about proving that big goals don’t have to be serious to be meaningful. Sometimes you just throw on a banana suit and go.”
Park rangers and hikers reportedly expressed surprise at both the speed and commitment of the ascent, noting that strong winds near the ridgeline only added to the challenge of climbing in a costume with aerodynamic… limitations.
Godwin’s time of 2:17 places him among some of the faster recorded ascents of Guadalupe Peak — costume or not — and establishes a playful new benchmark for novelty summits in Texas and beyond.
Today’s achievement adds to Godwin’s growing reputation as an adventurer with a sense of humor, following previous summits of Guadalupe Peak, Picacho Peak, Wheeler Peak, and Mount Elbert. However, he confirms this is his first completed in produce-themed attire.
About Evan Godwin
Evan Godwin is a Dallas-area entrepreneur with ventures spanning commercial real estate, service businesses, and retail concepts. Godwin is also an avid hiker with a penchant for mixing adventure with storytelling.
