Route Climbed: Bull of the Woods Date Climbed: October 4, 2005
We climbed Bull of the woods to La Cal Basin on the 3rd and camped for the night. On the 4th we went for the summit. The mountain was fogged in with no views and falling ice. Wind gusts were impressive especially on the exposed high ridges. We actually walked past the summit marker and had to backtrack due to almost no visibility. A tough hike due to the conditions on that day.
Route Climbed: standard/Williams Lake Date Climbed: July 13, 2004
I thought the standard trail was a waste of time, distance, and energy and a testament to the shame of private property amid spectacular settings; even in the wilderness, though, the trail takes an unnecessary dip into a basin when it could follow a mostly level ridge. The descent to Williams Lake was better for its brevity and encounters with bighorn sheep.
Route Climbed: Bull-of-the-Woods Trail Date Climbed: May 11, 2002
This is one of my favorite mountains in the Sangre de Christos. When we climbed Whheller in early May the conditions did not necessitate snowshoes but conditions vary so check ahead.
Route Climbed: Williams Lake Date Climbed: June 28, 2005
Hiked to Williams Lake and spent the night. Started ascent at 7:00 and sumitted at 9:20 AM. Fantastic weather, amazing sunrise, great views, some snow patches, lots of marmots and 3 (not so timid) Rocky Mountain Longhorn Sheep. Quick decent back to the camp site for lunch overlooking the lake and back to the parking lot.
Route Climbed: Bull of the Woods Date Climbed: May 12, 2005
Found snow about one half mile up the trail. Put on snow shoes at the one mile mark. Spent the night at Bull of the Woods Pasture. It is a beautiful place and I plan to return sometime when the snow is gone. Great weather and snow camping experience with sunshine and mild temps. Played around and decended the next day.
Route Climbed: Bull of the Woods Trail Date Climbed: August 1994
My wife, my dad and I made this climb. We had great weather and had a good time. While we were on top a man and his seven year old son made it up the Williams lake trail. The dad was excited but the little boy looked worn out. I realy liked looking down on horseshoe lake. I would like to climb to that lake someday.
Route Climbed: Bull-of-the-Woods Trail, up and down Date Climbed: July 9, 2003
This is a beautiful hike, and an experience I will always treasure. The switchbacks out of La Cal Basin were taxing. Saw lots of cheeky marmots and a bighorn sheep that only begrudingly moved off of the trail for me.
Route Climbed: Up Bull of the Woods, down Williams Lake Date Climbed: July 2004
Great climb, but I might have wanted something not so long for my first peak ever. Saw lots of wildlife, and running down the scree on upper Williams Lake trail was great. Reccomend the pizza in the little pizza place in Taos Ski valley after . . .its great
Route Climbed: WIlliams Lake Date Climbed: October 8, 2004
Went up WIlliams Lake, down Bull of the Woods. Encountered snow at about 10,500 and above. Brutal conditions along summit ridge - 30-40 mph winds, temps in the 20's. But plenty of sunshine, and winds eventually did subside. Great views from the summit. Fun climb, even though we did got a little lost towards the bottom of Bull of the Woods Trail.
chmoore577 - Oct 21, 2005 2:24 pm
Route Climbed: Bull of the Woods Date Climbed: October 4, 2005We climbed Bull of the woods to La Cal Basin on the 3rd and camped for the night. On the 4th we went for the summit. The mountain was fogged in with no views and falling ice. Wind gusts were impressive especially on the exposed high ridges. We actually walked past the summit marker and had to backtrack due to almost no visibility. A tough hike due to the conditions on that day.
Midlife Mountaineer - Oct 2, 2005 11:43 pm
Route Climbed: Williams Lake Trail Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2005, Sep 26, 2005Climbed Wheeler enroute to other peaks. The 6th was nice day that turned wet, the 26th was a perfect day.
Bob Bolton - Sep 30, 2005 10:05 pm
Route Climbed: Williams Lake Date Climbed: September 18, 2005Gorgeous day, but very windy on the summit ridge. Climbed with Duane Gilliland on our Ultra-prominence trip, although Wheeler is not an Ultra.
Bob Sihler - Sep 30, 2005 10:00 pm
Route Climbed: standard/Williams Lake Date Climbed: July 13, 2004I thought the standard trail was a waste of time, distance, and energy and a testament to the shame of private property amid spectacular settings; even in the wilderness, though, the trail takes an unnecessary dip into a basin when it could follow a mostly level ridge. The descent to Williams Lake was better for its brevity and encounters with bighorn sheep.
Andinistaloco - Sep 14, 2005 1:46 am
Route Climbed: standard Date Climbed: 1996?Fun hike - and watch out for the marmots - they'll eat anything you've sweated in (hats, shirts, etc.)!
Michael Crofford - Sep 6, 2005 12:50 am
Route Climbed: Bull of the Woods Date Climbed: September 3, 2005Great time...cloudy/foggy, very limited views from the top. Very windy especially on the ridges. 7th state highpoint.
73096sooner - Aug 5, 2005 4:51 pm
Route Climbed: Williams Lake Date Climbed: August 2, 2005My first trip up but it won't be the last. Had great weather on this day...
Cortez - Aug 2, 2005 11:41 am
Route Climbed: Bull-of-the-Woods Trail Date Climbed: May 11, 2002This is one of my favorite mountains in the Sangre de Christos. When we climbed Whheller in early May the conditions did not necessitate snowshoes but conditions vary so check ahead.
Hiking Party:
Michael Booker
Jennifer Booker
Shiloh
rwhitt - Jul 20, 2005 5:11 pm
Route Climbed: Williams Lake Date Climbed: June 28, 2005Hiked to Williams Lake and spent the night. Started ascent at 7:00 and sumitted at 9:20 AM. Fantastic weather, amazing sunrise, great views, some snow patches, lots of marmots and 3 (not so timid) Rocky Mountain Longhorn Sheep. Quick decent back to the camp site for lunch overlooking the lake and back to the parking lot.
rwhitt - Jul 20, 2005 5:01 pm
Route Climbed: Bull of the Woods Date Climbed: May 12, 2005Found snow about one half mile up the trail. Put on snow shoes at the one mile mark. Spent the night at Bull of the Woods Pasture. It is a beautiful place and I plan to return sometime when the snow is gone. Great weather and snow camping experience with sunshine and mild temps. Played around and decended the next day.
rleary - Jun 27, 2005 11:50 am
Route Climbed: WIlliam's Lake Variation Date Climbed: June 26, 2005We parked at the William's Lake trailhead and walked up an avalanch gully to the south of Frazer Mountain and walked up the ridge to Wheeler.
The clouds were very strange and at one point we considered bailing out to the west because of them.
There was awesome glissading from Wheeler down to William's Lake.
Midlife Mountaineer - Jun 25, 2005 10:25 pm
Route Climbed: Bull of the Woods ascent, Williams Lake descent Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2004A lot of snow for early October, looking forward to doing this one again.
km_donovan - Jun 6, 2005 6:44 am
Route Climbed: East Fork Date Climbed: June 22, 1997This was the first of 7 summits of Wheeler Peak. I am sure that there will be more.
easleygone - Apr 2, 2005 2:31 am
Route Climbed: Bull of the Woods-Williams Lake Date Climbed: Sept 1989A very long walk with interesting views. Not an
obvious mountain......seemed more like a high
point on a ridge. Scree skiing down to Williams
Lake was fun!
bechtt - Mar 12, 2005 2:08 pm
Route Climbed: Bull of the Woods Trail Date Climbed: Aug 93Straight forward hike up with 5 friends
Linejudge - Feb 9, 2005 5:26 pm
Route Climbed: Bull of the Woods Trail Date Climbed: August 1994My wife, my dad and I made this climb. We had great weather and had a good time. While we were on top a man and his seven year old son made it up the Williams lake trail. The dad was excited but the little boy looked worn out. I realy liked looking down on horseshoe lake. I would like to climb to that lake someday.
wwells - Feb 2, 2005 1:00 am
Route Climbed: Bull-of-the-Woods Trail, up and down Date Climbed: July 9, 2003This is a beautiful hike, and an experience I will always treasure. The switchbacks out of La Cal Basin were taxing. Saw lots of cheeky marmots and a bighorn sheep that only begrudingly moved off of the trail for me.
Steve Gruhn - Jan 26, 2005 10:48 pm
Route Climbed: Bull-of-the-Woods Trail Date Climbed: August 6, 1992Nice long walk.
ChaddBragg - Nov 23, 2004 3:39 pm
Route Climbed: Up Bull of the Woods, down Williams Lake Date Climbed: July 2004Great climb, but I might have wanted something not so long for my first peak ever. Saw lots of wildlife, and running down the scree on upper Williams Lake trail was great. Reccomend the pizza in the little pizza place in Taos Ski valley after . . .its great
paclimber - Oct 14, 2004 5:25 pm
Route Climbed: WIlliams Lake Date Climbed: October 8, 2004Went up WIlliams Lake, down Bull of the Woods. Encountered snow at about 10,500 and above. Brutal conditions along summit ridge - 30-40 mph winds, temps in the 20's. But plenty of sunshine, and winds eventually did subside. Great views from the summit. Fun climb, even though we did got a little lost towards the bottom of Bull of the Woods Trail.