Wheeler Peak, NM 9/13-9/15

“I've requested Friday 9/13 off so I can get to Taos at a decent hour. The plan will be to summitt Wheeler Peak on Saturday 9/14 to commemorate 9/11. (see (Commemorating 9/11 by hiking thread")

Rough plan:

It is a two and a half to three hour drive to Taos ski area from ABQ.

15 mile round trip hike.
9,390-13,161 ft.

Drive up on Friday, backpack into Bull of the Woods Meadow (2 miles) or farther depending on time, and camp.

Break camp early next morning, dump packs a camping place, summit, come down and camp.

Hike out and drive home Sunday.

Prowler? Cairn? anybody else around?

I'd probably take flag folded in pack, use my trekking poles that fit together as avalanche probe for a flag pole.”

“i would love to go. its sounds like a perfect way to deal with the upcoming event. you have made some great plans!
raise your poles for me and ill raise my glass for you on sept 13th”

“It's a deal. I'll wait and raise my "glass" in camp.”

“Bummer, 14 hrs is too long for me to drive.

8-(”

“Just want to keep this visible.”

“plane ticks TOO much, my truck=never make it (it's paid off)
wife says we must save all $$ to move near u.
got a "we're closing up shop and retiring" meeting the other day.
i am DYING to get west. i get the shakes thinkin about it
NM is BEEOOTIFUL!

thank you for the offer! we very well may meet 1 day!”

“too bad, maybe next time.

I've got one interested from OAN. Can you believe, with 96 outdoorsclub members within 100 miles of my zip, no interest! Very telling.”

“Prowler, here's my trip plan. One other person interested so far, if family health problems don't intervene. He lives near here.”

“I cant make that one unless I have to go sign on my land!!! Ill keep the fingers crossed.......”

“Wouldn't want this to slip off the radar screen. Should be awesome, great time of year to do it.”

“I guess I could do it solo.”

“Getting there early enough to go 5 miles, climb 2,500 ft the first afternnoon would be excellent.”

“Still planning on doing this trip.”

“Looks like one probable from OAN and one other possible. This should be a very nice time to do Wheeler. Anybody else?”

“Somebody on "the other board" suggested an alternate route.

I checked out my books and trail descriptions and I agree it looks pretty good going that way. It adds a little to the drive, but there are better camping spots and better water. We could go either East Fork Trail or Lost Lake Trail, and could even make a loop by using both. Using just Lost Lake Trail would be 8 mile round trip main loop with a 2-3 mile round trip up to Wheeler. Using East Fork alone would be 12 miles round trip plus, 2-3 miles round trip up to Wheeler. Making a loop of East Fork and Lost Lake looks like 14 mile main loop and 2-3 round trip up to Wheeler. Part of the 14 miles is a couple of mile on FR 58 to get back to the original trailhead.

So it would be something like 4/3/4 (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) for Lost Lake alone, 6/3/6 for East Fork alone, 7/3/7 for a loop. I'd be up for any of the three, as long as we got an early enough start.

Lost Lake Trail Description


Map, East Fork Trail also on this map.

"5","6","7" on the map are recommended camping spots.

Too bad you all are missing this one~! ;-)”

“Pathman:
Love to join you but the in-laws are coming to town this weekend. Don't count me out on future trips. I'm probably going to the Pecos(SB TH) in late October. Just an interesting tidbit: I redirected an Everest climber 2 days ago away from a Wheeler Pk trip this weekend and, instead, to the Pecos so he could traverse from N.Truchas Peak along the ridge south to Truchas Peak. Blasphemous since he won't make the highest summit in NM, but he's already been to the top of the world. Main reason for the redirect was water availability... Not that there is any along the ridge but the SB watershed has plenty.”

“I saw your post about crossing paths.

Truchas is very cool. We hit all three peaks in one day.

”

“sometimes webshots image display, sometimes they don't

Truchas Webshots Album, July 1982”

“Pathman, I think Im going to fly out Friday Morning to Alb. w/ kym!

Hike Wheelers then go home either Mon. or Tues. depending on what we are going to do for our 3rd wedding aniversary on Monday.”

“What time do you think you can get here?

Since nobody else had expressed interest we were looking at leaving Friday morning, getting to Red River around noon. We can adjust, but if we can get in 4-6 miles, climb from Trail Beginning: 10,300 feet to Trail Ending: 11,495 feet, that will put us in good position for Saturday.”

“I'll be home later tonight and check in. Don't forget you are making some major altitude changes!

ABQ 5000
Camping spot 11,500 or so
Wheeler Peak 13,161

Ohio?”

“we are discussing it over dinner for definet plans!

Ill let YOU know!!”

“BTW, a guy who goes by stumped is the other person going. He lives in Mountainair on the east side of the Manzanos, but will be staying in ABQ Thurs night. He hangs out on OAN and backpacker.com.”

“Wheeler Peak Photo from Highest Point Website

”

“Have another that may rendevous with us on Wheeler or in camp Saturday night.”

“That picture makes it look like more of a mountain than I remember! I wonder where it was taken from?”

“I didn't remember toejam coming to TT!

This seems to be the right perspective, with Mt. Walter to the right, from a point east and slightly north. I think I see the trail, too.

X marks the spot”

“Sorry but no way I can pull it! Wife kinda? wants me to stay around town, and its time to save instead of spend, spend!

+ Im training some one and cant leave them hanging!

most important its our ANIVERSARY!”

“I understand. There will definitely be another time.

Happy anniversary!”

“did you get my email re. our plans?”

“Yes, I'll be there and I'll e-mail you back.”

“All right. Maybe I should wear a tin foil hat so you can recognize me!”

“whooopeee. I'm off work and ramping up to leave tomorrow morning.”