jimegan - Feb 7, 2008 11:18 am Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2004
WHEELER PK
SOLOED WILLIAMS LK TRAIL AND NEARLY PASSED BY SUMMIT ON FINE TRAIL ON E FLANKS HEADED FOR DISTANT GOOD LOOKING PEAK FREEZING WIND CHILL WHILE TRYING TO SIGN REGISTER
Beautiful hike up Wheeler Peak, highly recommended.
highlandvillager - Jan 6, 2008 1:09 am Date Climbed: May 27, 2007
Just in time
We got a late start and trudged through knee deep snow to Williams Lake. I cut my break there short, which made all the difference. I was able to summit and glissade back down to the tree line before an approaching storm arrived. My climbing partner lingered too long at Williams Lake and was turned back by a blizzard just shy of the summit. We both enjoyed the beer and food at The Bavarian before returning to camp.
AltitudeSickness - Dec 22, 2007 8:42 pm Date Climbed: Jan 1, 2004
Route Climbed: Bushwhacked
Bushwhacked up to approach to Mt. Walters from Lake Fork Creek. Followed ridge to Mt. Wheeler. Lots of snow made it lots of fun. Played all the way there. Bright sunshine all day. Cold sometimes, very warm at other times. Great trip even though I was miserably out of shape.
panweilin - Oct 25, 2007 7:46 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2004
My 1st NM peak
The first peak I went up in New Mexico. Wildflower blooming.
forjan - Oct 15, 2007 11:43 am Date Climbed: Oct 12, 2007
Williams Lake Trail
Woke up at 7:30am to 32F at the hiker parking lot. Started up at 8:10am. A local dog followed me all the way to the summit which we reached just before 10am. Stayed at the summit for 1/2 hr. Windy & cold along the summit ridge. Tagged Mount Walter on the way down. Back at the trailhead by 11:40am (3.5 hrs car-to-car).
I like it on top - Sep 12, 2007 1:31 am Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2007
Beautiful Day
Bright sun and spectacular views. After a short bushwack, we rose above treeline and picked up the bull of the woods trail, and made the summit around 11:30am. We completed the climb in recognition of those lost on 09-11, on behalf of Cops on Top.
Starting in the early morning, there were beautiful weather conditions... *until* I climbed halfway up the saddle-slope between Wheeler Peak & Mount Walter. Then, suddenly, a solid cloud blanket covered over both peaks. The wind picked up, and it quickly felt like the temperature dropped to below freezing. When I reached Wheeler Peak's summit, the cloud/fog was so thick that I couldn't see 2-3 feet in front of me, so I jogged over to Mount Walter's summit to hopefully find more suitable conditions... only to find much of the same thick cloud cover there. It was too bad, as I bet that the views from the summits would have been spectacular. Thank goodness for my GPS & general pathfinding skills. The Williams Lake Trail is very nice!!!
Clodhopper - Sep 3, 2007 8:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2006
Not the best weather
Thunderstorm above the treeline, at 13000ft. In retrospect, not so smart. Camping on top in a lightning storm, well, stupid. We made it though, I think I'll wait for a clear day to do it again.
A Bit - Sep 1, 2007 2:23 am Date Climbed: Sep 15, 1996
From the ski area
A bighorn sheep was there to welcome us near the summit. Didn't see much of the view due to clouds that put down a couple inches of snow.
lasvegaswraith - Aug 17, 2007 7:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2003
Look out!
Hiked via Williams Lake and the steep slog to the saddle. Bagged Walter en route down and fought off marmots trying to make off with everything not tied down. Saw 15 or 20 bighorn on the way down and got some decent photos but headed for the hills quick as thunderheads started building (and this was 1000am) It started to rain and hail by the time I got back to the trailhead. Start early in summer for sure.
HP #31. Hiked with Paul. Steep!!! Enjoyable hike and TONS of marmots! So cute! Glissaded for the first time on a short snowfield--fun stuff! : )
Zandt - Jun 25, 2007 2:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2007
Gorgeous climb
Ascended Bull-of-the-Woods Trail, which was beautiful, though obscured by large snowfields in several places. Descended by the Williams Lake trail...which seems just plain destroyed along much of its length and extends down into probably one of the saddest-looking spruce forests I've ever seen.
2skinners - Jun 22, 2007 4:50 am Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2007
HP #4 Beautiful day
My 2nd attempt successful as my first attempt was turned back by myself because of threatening looking clouds. Well worth the effort as this was a beautiful climb.
I've climbed Wheeler 5 or 6 times since my first time in 1997, once from the Taos Ski Valley and every other time via the Middle Fork TH near Red River. Had fun every time. I love camping near Lost Lake...caught a couple nice trout in there a couple years ago with Elk Hair Caddis flies. Tried it once in winter and had to turn back (mostly because my partner had a 30 degree bag and froze his ass off the night before near the TH). I plan on climbing it many more times, one of my favorite trails in NM.
atavist - Apr 2, 2007 11:40 am Date Climbed: Nov 26, 2006
Just in time
We barely got this climb in before a big storm hit. It was cold and windy at high camp. Very cold. There was a good base of snow above tree line. On the drive back, we got nailed by a huge snowstorm as we were driving west on I-40 through AZ.
The edge - Mar 14, 2007 4:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2003
HP #41
The very next day that I was on Elbert... here I was on the top of Wheeler... I guess I was acclimitized...
Awesome scenery..!!
Only nine to go!!!
Summited with Caleb and Kunz while returning to exile in Dallas. Great way to end a great trip!
tomastx - Mar 5, 2007 5:16 am Date Climbed: Jan 3, 2007
Winter Snow
Went up Bull of the Woods with my brother, but after the heavy snowfall, we were breaking tral and postholing past the knees with snowshoes. We soon realized that despite an Alpine start, we would never make it to the top. Had a fun day, will be for another time. Made it to 12,000' something.
jimegan - Feb 7, 2008 11:18 am Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2004
WHEELER PKSOLOED WILLIAMS LK TRAIL AND NEARLY PASSED BY SUMMIT ON FINE TRAIL ON E FLANKS HEADED FOR DISTANT GOOD LOOKING PEAK FREEZING WIND CHILL WHILE TRYING TO SIGN REGISTER
GroundControl - Jan 13, 2008 10:05 am
Wheeler Peak, Summer 2003Beautiful hike up Wheeler Peak, highly recommended.
highlandvillager - Jan 6, 2008 1:09 am Date Climbed: May 27, 2007
Just in timeWe got a late start and trudged through knee deep snow to Williams Lake. I cut my break there short, which made all the difference. I was able to summit and glissade back down to the tree line before an approaching storm arrived. My climbing partner lingered too long at Williams Lake and was turned back by a blizzard just shy of the summit. We both enjoyed the beer and food at The Bavarian before returning to camp.
AltitudeSickness - Dec 22, 2007 8:42 pm Date Climbed: Jan 1, 2004
Route Climbed: BushwhackedBushwhacked up to approach to Mt. Walters from Lake Fork Creek. Followed ridge to Mt. Wheeler. Lots of snow made it lots of fun. Played all the way there. Bright sunshine all day. Cold sometimes, very warm at other times. Great trip even though I was miserably out of shape.
panweilin - Oct 25, 2007 7:46 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2004
My 1st NM peakThe first peak I went up in New Mexico. Wildflower blooming.
forjan - Oct 15, 2007 11:43 am Date Climbed: Oct 12, 2007
Williams Lake TrailWoke up at 7:30am to 32F at the hiker parking lot. Started up at 8:10am. A local dog followed me all the way to the summit which we reached just before 10am. Stayed at the summit for 1/2 hr. Windy & cold along the summit ridge. Tagged Mount Walter on the way down. Back at the trailhead by 11:40am (3.5 hrs car-to-car).
I like it on top - Sep 12, 2007 1:31 am Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2007
Beautiful DayBright sun and spectacular views. After a short bushwack, we rose above treeline and picked up the bull of the woods trail, and made the summit around 11:30am. We completed the climb in recognition of those lost on 09-11, on behalf of Cops on Top.
Redwic - Sep 9, 2007 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2007
Weather Issues At The SummitStarting in the early morning, there were beautiful weather conditions... *until* I climbed halfway up the saddle-slope between Wheeler Peak & Mount Walter. Then, suddenly, a solid cloud blanket covered over both peaks. The wind picked up, and it quickly felt like the temperature dropped to below freezing. When I reached Wheeler Peak's summit, the cloud/fog was so thick that I couldn't see 2-3 feet in front of me, so I jogged over to Mount Walter's summit to hopefully find more suitable conditions... only to find much of the same thick cloud cover there. It was too bad, as I bet that the views from the summits would have been spectacular. Thank goodness for my GPS & general pathfinding skills. The Williams Lake Trail is very nice!!!
Clodhopper - Sep 3, 2007 8:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2006
Not the best weatherThunderstorm above the treeline, at 13000ft. In retrospect, not so smart. Camping on top in a lightning storm, well, stupid. We made it though, I think I'll wait for a clear day to do it again.
A Bit - Sep 1, 2007 2:23 am Date Climbed: Sep 15, 1996
From the ski areaA bighorn sheep was there to welcome us near the summit. Didn't see much of the view due to clouds that put down a couple inches of snow.
lasvegaswraith - Aug 17, 2007 7:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2003
Look out!Hiked via Williams Lake and the steep slog to the saddle. Bagged Walter en route down and fought off marmots trying to make off with everything not tied down. Saw 15 or 20 bighorn on the way down and got some decent photos but headed for the hills quick as thunderheads started building (and this was 1000am) It started to rain and hail by the time I got back to the trailhead. Start early in summer for sure.
StarMan - Aug 9, 2007 8:40 pm
September 2005Via Williams Lake - STEEP!
starship_jen - Jul 9, 2007 2:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2007
Williams LakeHP #31. Hiked with Paul. Steep!!! Enjoyable hike and TONS of marmots! So cute! Glissaded for the first time on a short snowfield--fun stuff! : )
Zandt - Jun 25, 2007 2:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2007
Gorgeous climbAscended Bull-of-the-Woods Trail, which was beautiful, though obscured by large snowfields in several places. Descended by the Williams Lake trail...which seems just plain destroyed along much of its length and extends down into probably one of the saddest-looking spruce forests I've ever seen.
2skinners - Jun 22, 2007 4:50 am Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2007
HP #4 Beautiful dayMy 2nd attempt successful as my first attempt was turned back by myself because of threatening looking clouds. Well worth the effort as this was a beautiful climb.
Art Vandalay - Apr 3, 2007 8:06 pm
Love WheelerI've climbed Wheeler 5 or 6 times since my first time in 1997, once from the Taos Ski Valley and every other time via the Middle Fork TH near Red River. Had fun every time. I love camping near Lost Lake...caught a couple nice trout in there a couple years ago with Elk Hair Caddis flies. Tried it once in winter and had to turn back (mostly because my partner had a 30 degree bag and froze his ass off the night before near the TH). I plan on climbing it many more times, one of my favorite trails in NM.
atavist - Apr 2, 2007 11:40 am Date Climbed: Nov 26, 2006
Just in timeWe barely got this climb in before a big storm hit. It was cold and windy at high camp. Very cold. There was a good base of snow above tree line. On the drive back, we got nailed by a huge snowstorm as we were driving west on I-40 through AZ.
The edge - Mar 14, 2007 4:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2003
HP #41The very next day that I was on Elbert... here I was on the top of Wheeler... I guess I was acclimitized...
Awesome scenery..!!
Only nine to go!!!
Bubba Suess - Mar 9, 2007 10:00 pm
High point of a great trip.Summited with Caleb and Kunz while returning to exile in Dallas. Great way to end a great trip!
tomastx - Mar 5, 2007 5:16 am Date Climbed: Jan 3, 2007
Winter SnowWent up Bull of the Woods with my brother, but after the heavy snowfall, we were breaking tral and postholing past the knees with snowshoes. We soon realized that despite an Alpine start, we would never make it to the top. Had a fun day, will be for another time. Made it to 12,000' something.