All five of us reached the summit successfully after camping out the previous two nights at Middle Fork Lake and Lost Lake. I can say with confidence that this is only the beginning of my climbing career. (;
Jeremy Hakes - Oct 17, 2010 10:50 pm Date Climbed: Oct 14, 2010
Nice alpine experience!
Nice hike. Went up the from Williams Lake. Looks like the USFS is making a real trail in the area, which is good - it is a worthwhile route, and lots of people go that way.
PhenomenalWoman - Oct 10, 2010 12:30 am Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2010
First Solo Summit!
A unexpected separation from my hiking partner resulted in an gratifying solo summit, 5 extra miles of hiking, and a rainy descent. All worth it to know I did it on my own!
Eleutheros - Oct 1, 2010 10:31 pm Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2010
Steep N' Easy
Storms came in around 3pm to clear the skies and make for an awe-inspiring sunset in the New Mexico Sangres. I used a new trail that's being built with stimulus funds (to reduce hiker impact on vegetation etc). It will eventually switchback all the way to the Walter/Wheeler saddle. Anyway, great times!
My eleventh state highpoint. I camped in the parking lot at the Bavarian and got on the trail at 6:45 a.m. It took me 3 hours to get to the top and 2 hours to get back down. I also hit Mt. Walter while I was up there since it was so close. Then I shot over to Black Mesa. Overall, Great half-day hike but very steep!
Winex - Sep 15, 2010 10:27 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2010
Somewhat lost
Camped out in the parking lot by the Williams Lake Trailhead. Hiked and summited using the Williams Lake Trail. Met some nice people at the top, they suggested taking Bull of the Woods Trail back to the parking lot. It was a beautiful trail, but took longer than expected. We ended up at the Taos ski area and had to hike back up to the Williams parking lot via a dirt road. Overall a 10+ day!
xDoogiex - Aug 15, 2010 12:30 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
HP #16
HWat Hotoven said. this was was my first high peak and it was awesome. the altitude beat my ass. gotta train harder with cardio. awesome views and the golden-mounted ground squirrels on top were awesome. met a lot of cool people
Hotoven - Aug 11, 2010 3:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
Nice hike on a wonderful day!
Couldn't have asked for better weather. We met some great folks from all around and had a nice break on top. I got a small headache but what can you say. I'm a flat lander! Awesome views and a nice cannon on top?
hyperbolictans - Aug 1, 2010 9:54 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2010
Climbing Wheeler
Camped at the Twinning camp in the middle of Taos Ski Village. Stated from Williams lake TH at 0635hrs, reached Williams lake by 0730hrs, and the summit 0835hrs. Summit was totally fogged in, pretty windy and viewless at the top of NM. There were already 4 persons on the summit when i arrived. Took a few shots and descended quickly to Williams TH. Halfway down the weather cleared up spectacularly. I should have started out one hour late and would have gotten the million dollar summit view. Anyways, lingered for long while at Williams lake taking in the view before heading out.
AltitudeSickness - Jun 29, 2010 1:18 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2010
3 Day Escape
Escaped from the concrete jungle to spend 3 wonderful days around the Williams Lake area, took direct route to Wheeler Peak the last day, started at dawn and climbed into the sun as it came over the ridge, wonderful, beautiful day, with the typical 40 mph winds at the top!! Doing it with my son made the time extra special.
redmond - Jun 29, 2010 11:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2010
via Williams Lake
On my way across the country, had just come from Mount Magazine and Black Mesa. Beautiful climb, but coming down was hard on the knees.
pittbrownie - Jun 29, 2010 10:19 am Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2010
State HP #6
In Taos for the Solar Music Festival, hiked the standard route in the morning.
markmontgomery - Jun 24, 2010 8:30 am Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2010
Pre-monsoon beauty
My wife and I had a great hike on June 21. Camped at Taos Ski Valley, left camp at 8am, meeting strong gusts at exposed ridges above Bull of the Woods, but great views and plenty of sun. La Cal basin was full of Marmots. I missed the snow free easy traverse through alpine shrubs and snow fields in La Cal basin, which cost us 500 extra feet following trail down to bottom of valley-- trail still buried in snow, so it was a slog up the switchback ridge to Mt. Walter. It takes a bit of maze work, but coming down we traversed this section off trail without losing alt. A short, steep snowfield below Walter is a bit dangerous without climbing gear -- stay to right/west on way up and over knob above La Cal basin to avoid (again we corrected on way down). Otherwise trail on ridge at 13k is either snow free or low risk. We made it to summit about 2pm and took our time with no lightening threat; just occasional strong gusts. A few young, strong climbers came up from Williams Lake-- strongly suggest very good conditioning and acclimatization for that route. Made it back to camp at 6:45 pm -- long day... Bull of Woods route is very exposed with several hours above treeline at top of NM, so again warning on weather -- we lucked out with short notice pre-monsoon and hot weather with good meltoff -- suggest post-monsoon in Sept or very good forecast -- would not want to be caught up there in a Tstorm.... Last time we were on top of Wheeler was 17 years ago in early Oct of '93-- perfect weather, no other people -- following weekend dumped 2ft on TSV. I posted photo album-- http://www.summitpost.org/album/631747/Wheeler-Peak-NM-17-years-later-.html --great trip.
asaking11 - May 30, 2010 12:48 am Date Climbed: May 29, 2010
Great trip to the top of NM
I took the bull of the woods trail up to the top of Wheeler. It was super windy, gusts of at least 60 or 70mph. I saw about 20 rams, including one that tried to mount another one. Great day, still quite a bit of snow.
Mlasky - Mar 13, 2010 10:12 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2005
Job Benefit
I was assigned to work at Los Alamos and found the opportunity to do this peak. I had to make two attempts. it was pouring the first attempt so never made it out of the parking lot. A couple days later and glorious weather was had!
mtndrm - Nov 3, 2010 9:15 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2010
Alcancé la cumbreAll five of us reached the summit successfully after camping out the previous two nights at Middle Fork Lake and Lost Lake. I can say with confidence that this is only the beginning of my climbing career. (;
Jeremy Hakes - Oct 17, 2010 10:50 pm Date Climbed: Oct 14, 2010
Nice alpine experience!Nice hike. Went up the from Williams Lake. Looks like the USFS is making a real trail in the area, which is good - it is a worthwhile route, and lots of people go that way.
PhenomenalWoman - Oct 10, 2010 12:30 am Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2010
First Solo Summit!A unexpected separation from my hiking partner resulted in an gratifying solo summit, 5 extra miles of hiking, and a rainy descent. All worth it to know I did it on my own!
Eleutheros - Oct 1, 2010 10:31 pm Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2010
Steep N' EasyStorms came in around 3pm to clear the skies and make for an awe-inspiring sunset in the New Mexico Sangres. I used a new trail that's being built with stimulus funds (to reduce hiker impact on vegetation etc). It will eventually switchback all the way to the Walter/Wheeler saddle. Anyway, great times!
Outdooraholic - Sep 26, 2010 8:03 pm Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2010
Highpoint #11My eleventh state highpoint. I camped in the parking lot at the Bavarian and got on the trail at 6:45 a.m. It took me 3 hours to get to the top and 2 hours to get back down. I also hit Mt. Walter while I was up there since it was so close. Then I shot over to Black Mesa. Overall, Great half-day hike but very steep!
Winex - Sep 15, 2010 10:27 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2010
Somewhat lostCamped out in the parking lot by the Williams Lake Trailhead. Hiked and summited using the Williams Lake Trail. Met some nice people at the top, they suggested taking Bull of the Woods Trail back to the parking lot. It was a beautiful trail, but took longer than expected. We ended up at the Taos ski area and had to hike back up to the Williams parking lot via a dirt road. Overall a 10+ day!
xDoogiex - Aug 15, 2010 12:30 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
HP #16HWat Hotoven said. this was was my first high peak and it was awesome. the altitude beat my ass. gotta train harder with cardio. awesome views and the golden-mounted ground squirrels on top were awesome. met a lot of cool people
Hotoven - Aug 11, 2010 3:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
Nice hike on a wonderful day!Couldn't have asked for better weather. We met some great folks from all around and had a nice break on top. I got a small headache but what can you say. I'm a flat lander! Awesome views and a nice cannon on top?
hyperbolictans - Aug 1, 2010 9:54 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2010
Climbing WheelerCamped at the Twinning camp in the middle of Taos Ski Village. Stated from Williams lake TH at 0635hrs, reached Williams lake by 0730hrs, and the summit 0835hrs. Summit was totally fogged in, pretty windy and viewless at the top of NM. There were already 4 persons on the summit when i arrived. Took a few shots and descended quickly to Williams TH. Halfway down the weather cleared up spectacularly. I should have started out one hour late and would have gotten the million dollar summit view. Anyways, lingered for long while at Williams lake taking in the view before heading out.
kteichert - Jul 29, 2010 10:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2010
HP #15Did it in 3 hours. Glad to do another rocky state highpoint. It was awesome!
DonnaRaef - Jul 20, 2010 8:30 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2010
BeautifulLovely hike!
AltitudeSickness - Jun 29, 2010 1:18 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2010
3 Day EscapeEscaped from the concrete jungle to spend 3 wonderful days around the Williams Lake area, took direct route to Wheeler Peak the last day, started at dawn and climbed into the sun as it came over the ridge, wonderful, beautiful day, with the typical 40 mph winds at the top!! Doing it with my son made the time extra special.
redmond - Jun 29, 2010 11:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2010
via Williams LakeOn my way across the country, had just come from Mount Magazine and Black Mesa. Beautiful climb, but coming down was hard on the knees.
pittbrownie - Jun 29, 2010 10:19 am Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2010
State HP #6In Taos for the Solar Music Festival, hiked the standard route in the morning.
markmontgomery - Jun 24, 2010 8:30 am Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2010
Pre-monsoon beautyMy wife and I had a great hike on June 21. Camped at Taos Ski Valley, left camp at 8am, meeting strong gusts at exposed ridges above Bull of the Woods, but great views and plenty of sun. La Cal basin was full of Marmots. I missed the snow free easy traverse through alpine shrubs and snow fields in La Cal basin, which cost us 500 extra feet following trail down to bottom of valley-- trail still buried in snow, so it was a slog up the switchback ridge to Mt. Walter. It takes a bit of maze work, but coming down we traversed this section off trail without losing alt. A short, steep snowfield below Walter is a bit dangerous without climbing gear -- stay to right/west on way up and over knob above La Cal basin to avoid (again we corrected on way down). Otherwise trail on ridge at 13k is either snow free or low risk. We made it to summit about 2pm and took our time with no lightening threat; just occasional strong gusts. A few young, strong climbers came up from Williams Lake-- strongly suggest very good conditioning and acclimatization for that route. Made it back to camp at 6:45 pm -- long day... Bull of Woods route is very exposed with several hours above treeline at top of NM, so again warning on weather -- we lucked out with short notice pre-monsoon and hot weather with good meltoff -- suggest post-monsoon in Sept or very good forecast -- would not want to be caught up there in a Tstorm.... Last time we were on top of Wheeler was 17 years ago in early Oct of '93-- perfect weather, no other people -- following weekend dumped 2ft on TSV. I posted photo album-- http://www.summitpost.org/album/631747/Wheeler-Peak-NM-17-years-later-.html --great trip.
asaking11 - May 30, 2010 12:48 am Date Climbed: May 29, 2010
Great trip to the top of NMI took the bull of the woods trail up to the top of Wheeler. It was super windy, gusts of at least 60 or 70mph. I saw about 20 rams, including one that tried to mount another one. Great day, still quite a bit of snow.
Mlasky - Mar 13, 2010 10:12 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2005
Job BenefitI was assigned to work at Los Alamos and found the opportunity to do this peak. I had to make two attempts. it was pouring the first attempt so never made it out of the parking lot. A couple days later and glorious weather was had!
Zeke - Feb 3, 2010 6:01 pm
Route Climbed: StandardEnjoyed the hike, excellent scenery
Alika - Jan 23, 2010 1:44 am Date Climbed: Oct 25, 2009
2nd State high pointNice day in the snow, mountain goats at the summit
MBS1017 - Dec 19, 2009 3:01 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2008
Via Williams LakeMost beautiful alpine in New Mexico. Super friendly marmots.