People were turning around at the ridge below the final buttress due to high winds ... and the wind did rock! I left Rico at the base of that ridge and ascended the the buttress on the north side; which was somewhat sheltered. It took 3 hours and 15 minutes from the trailhead to the top.
We were trying to go for Jeff Davis via the Wheeler trail. Too much wind that day and we would have been in it for the entire Wheeler to Jeff Davis traverse. The rangers are recommending snow shoes, but you don't really need them now.
Freaking windy up high, almost blow-you-over windy. NV should really give Boundary to CA and make this its highest peak -- it's much more interesting and appropriate.
danomike - Jul 7, 2011 10:35 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2001
Wheeler
It was a fun trip about 10 years ago. It's worth going out there!
weeds19 - Jul 5, 2011 11:14 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2011
Lots of snow still
I was greeted at the TH by giant mounds of snow, so I decided to go with pants and boots versus my anticipated shorts and running shoes. It turns out that most of the trail is snow free and I only had to negotiate snow for a few 50 yd sections on the ascent. The bluebird day made for a beautiful summit experience!
Vasler - Dec 23, 2010 3:20 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2010
Wheeler
Great Basin was always a mysterious NP, but living in Vegas and being a bit worn on the Spring Mountains, I drove to the isolated park. Wheeler is the flagship mountain and can be extremely windy (It was when I was there). People unprepared for the wind chill turned back shortly after treeline. There are wind shelters along the way that are fun to rest at and build upon. If you're on the Lonliest Highway in America, take time to ramble up this peak (& check out the caves too).
robot one - Nov 20, 2010 10:19 am Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2010
Started at 0600 on the summit about 0900, spent a lot of time taking pictures, then a nice hike down. Virtually no wind, and a nice clear sunny day. Over the three day weekend 29 miles and a gain of 9500 ft!
PocketsOfBlue - Aug 21, 2010 7:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2010
Leisurely hike w/ the lady
Nice, moderate afternoon hike with Katherine. About five hours round trip.
Day Hiker - Aug 17, 2010 12:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2010
Wheeler Peak
Up via Summit trailhead (1:59; 4.3 mi; 2900 ft).
Down via Alpine Lakes/Glacier trailhead (1:19; 4.1 mi; 3100 ft).
jimegan - Aug 17, 2010 12:18 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2010
Wheeler Pk
climbed from Wheeler Pk campground enroute to Jeff Davis
blueshade - Aug 2, 2010 11:09 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2010
Wheeler
Third consecutive day of climbing. Did Castle Dome two days prior and Mt. Shasta the day before. Peaked in 1:37 without trying hard and round trip in 2:45 running down to make an earlier cave tour. Would be a nice practice hike for something larger.
redmond - Jul 8, 2010 5:27 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2010
Standard Route
Great climb. Some snow on the lower parts of the trail, but overall beautiful and fairly easy hike up.
Pharmacist - Jun 26, 2010 7:30 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2010
triple peak day
climbed wheeler up the main trail, then down and over to jeff davis, then around the south side of wheeler and up to baker, then back up wheeler a 2nd time and down the trail, with the last couple miles in the dark. started at 11:15am, back to the truck about 9:30pm.
Peanut - Apr 26, 2010 10:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2009
Awesome Day
Could not have asked for better weather. Incredible views that day and, as a first time climber, found the last mile or so very challenging as I was not expecting it to be so steep. Met Jim Johnson of Fernley hiking to the top for his 83rd birthday. Great achievement! The rest of his family was there as well. This was the first year he had not climbed a 14er because his children had begged him not to - I love it!
Climbed this when I was 9 years old, fell short of the summit but took pictures with my cousin that made it look as though we had topped out. Hahaha no one believed us, of course.
utclimber - Nov 24, 2009 12:52 am Date Climbed: May 13, 2006
Ski Tour
Climbed Wheeler as a ski tour, timed right after the road opened.
The two of us visited this lovely NP and stayed overnight at the upper campsites. This afforded us the opportunity to both climb Wheeler Peak (and thereby satisfying any doubt that we had reached the high point of Nevada) and to see the Bristle Cone forest and the incredible shrinking glacier. I was surprised and delighted by this beautiful area. I hope that I get to return someday.
Very remote area and very surprised to actually see other people on the trail. Day started of warm and sunny; later some thunderstorms developed around us but we managed to stay dry; it did start raining soon after we reached the parking lot though. The Aspen's were already turning colors nicely.
Only 2 in the group felt like continuing to Jeff Davis, so we compromised and quickly ran up Bald Mountain while the rest of the group waited at Stella lake.
We spent two nights in Baker, NV. Great Basin definitely has a "I'm on another planet" feel, which makes it a fun experience.
voxnihili - Aug 7, 2011 6:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2011
Great HikeBeautiful scenery on the hike up, amazing views from the top. A little breezy on the ridgeline but not too bad. Definitely worth the trip.
cjwhat - Jul 25, 2011 7:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2011
Windy walk upPeople were turning around at the ridge below the final buttress due to high winds ... and the wind did rock! I left Rico at the base of that ridge and ascended the the buttress on the north side; which was somewhat sheltered. It took 3 hours and 15 minutes from the trailhead to the top.
danomike - Jul 18, 2011 12:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2011
Did it again!We were trying to go for Jeff Davis via the Wheeler trail. Too much wind that day and we would have been in it for the entire Wheeler to Jeff Davis traverse. The rangers are recommending snow shoes, but you don't really need them now.
seano - Jul 14, 2011 8:07 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2011
Standard routeFreaking windy up high, almost blow-you-over windy. NV should really give Boundary to CA and make this its highest peak -- it's much more interesting and appropriate.
danomike - Jul 7, 2011 10:35 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2001
WheelerIt was a fun trip about 10 years ago. It's worth going out there!
weeds19 - Jul 5, 2011 11:14 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2011
Lots of snow stillI was greeted at the TH by giant mounds of snow, so I decided to go with pants and boots versus my anticipated shorts and running shoes. It turns out that most of the trail is snow free and I only had to negotiate snow for a few 50 yd sections on the ascent. The bluebird day made for a beautiful summit experience!
Vasler - Dec 23, 2010 3:20 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2010
WheelerGreat Basin was always a mysterious NP, but living in Vegas and being a bit worn on the Spring Mountains, I drove to the isolated park. Wheeler is the flagship mountain and can be extremely windy (It was when I was there). People unprepared for the wind chill turned back shortly after treeline. There are wind shelters along the way that are fun to rest at and build upon. If you're on the Lonliest Highway in America, take time to ramble up this peak (& check out the caves too).
robot one - Nov 20, 2010 10:19 am Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2010
From Buck MtnNice
badmajick - Sep 9, 2010 4:23 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2010
Nice hikeStarted at 0600 on the summit about 0900, spent a lot of time taking pictures, then a nice hike down. Virtually no wind, and a nice clear sunny day. Over the three day weekend 29 miles and a gain of 9500 ft!
PocketsOfBlue - Aug 21, 2010 7:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2010
Leisurely hike w/ the ladyNice, moderate afternoon hike with Katherine. About five hours round trip.
Day Hiker - Aug 17, 2010 12:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2010
Wheeler PeakUp via Summit trailhead (1:59; 4.3 mi; 2900 ft).
Down via Alpine Lakes/Glacier trailhead (1:19; 4.1 mi; 3100 ft).
jimegan - Aug 17, 2010 12:18 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2010
Wheeler Pkclimbed from Wheeler Pk campground enroute to Jeff Davis
blueshade - Aug 2, 2010 11:09 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2010
WheelerThird consecutive day of climbing. Did Castle Dome two days prior and Mt. Shasta the day before. Peaked in 1:37 without trying hard and round trip in 2:45 running down to make an earlier cave tour. Would be a nice practice hike for something larger.
redmond - Jul 8, 2010 5:27 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2010
Standard RouteGreat climb. Some snow on the lower parts of the trail, but overall beautiful and fairly easy hike up.
Pharmacist - Jun 26, 2010 7:30 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2010
triple peak dayclimbed wheeler up the main trail, then down and over to jeff davis, then around the south side of wheeler and up to baker, then back up wheeler a 2nd time and down the trail, with the last couple miles in the dark. started at 11:15am, back to the truck about 9:30pm.
Peanut - Apr 26, 2010 10:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2009
Awesome DayCould not have asked for better weather. Incredible views that day and, as a first time climber, found the last mile or so very challenging as I was not expecting it to be so steep. Met Jim Johnson of Fernley hiking to the top for his 83rd birthday. Great achievement! The rest of his family was there as well. This was the first year he had not climbed a 14er because his children had begged him not to - I love it!
SKI - Dec 26, 2009 12:37 pm
The start of it allClimbed this when I was 9 years old, fell short of the summit but took pictures with my cousin that made it look as though we had topped out. Hahaha no one believed us, of course.
utclimber - Nov 24, 2009 12:52 am Date Climbed: May 13, 2006
Ski TourClimbed Wheeler as a ski tour, timed right after the road opened.
woodstrider - Oct 13, 2009 6:07 pm
two days at Wheeler Peak, NevadaThe two of us visited this lovely NP and stayed overnight at the upper campsites. This afforded us the opportunity to both climb Wheeler Peak (and thereby satisfying any doubt that we had reached the high point of Nevada) and to see the Bristle Cone forest and the incredible shrinking glacier. I was surprised and delighted by this beautiful area. I hope that I get to return someday.
Luciano136 - Sep 21, 2009 8:24 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2009
Beautiful hikeVery remote area and very surprised to actually see other people on the trail. Day started of warm and sunny; later some thunderstorms developed around us but we managed to stay dry; it did start raining soon after we reached the parking lot though. The Aspen's were already turning colors nicely.
Only 2 in the group felt like continuing to Jeff Davis, so we compromised and quickly ran up Bald Mountain while the rest of the group waited at Stella lake.
We spent two nights in Baker, NV. Great Basin definitely has a "I'm on another planet" feel, which makes it a fun experience.