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Any more recent info on Wheeler? Thinking of heading up there this Wednesday (10/19). Have axe and crampons if needbe. After nearly getting blown off Bierstadt last week, I an hungry for a summit.

I drove into NM this morning via 159 (CO) and 522 (NM). Not much snow, mainly in the prominent gullies and even then very patchy. It was snowing a bit over La Veta Pass, but NM was bluebird. I'll be leaving tomorrow, if anything is significantly different than what I saw today, I'll post again. I seriously doubt snowshoes are necessary, and I doubt microspikes would actually be necessary, although they may help in very small sections. Crampons and ax would be overkill, based on what I saw today.

I actually ended up doing Wheeler yesterday afternoon. Microspikes or crampons would have been most useful on the part from the ski are to Williams lake, which more closely resembled a bobsleigh run than a trail. Getting up the peak was fine, I just used the old trail up the gully to get away from the ice on the new trail.

The conditions on Saturday October 22 were just about perfect. Mindywoo and I went up the new Williams Lake summit trail. Last year at this time we ascended the gully from Williams Lake. There was more snow on the ground last year turning the gully into a mild snow climb. Right now the gully is dry. On the trail there are long sections of ice down low in the trees and short sections of packed snow up high. The microspikes came in handy across the slick sections, especially for the mile or two thru the trees and some up high.

Thanks moon stalker and pbjames for the recent beta.

A couple pics of the Williams Lake route on Oct 22:

Conditions have improved a lot since the 9th.

Just a quick update.

Thanks everyone for the great information.

I hiked Wheeler Peak on Saturday 8/25/12.

Bull-of-the-Woods Trail up and down. About 15 or so miles RT.

Great trail all the way up. I did see a few cows on the trail. They were munching away.

I took 160 (CO) at Walsenburg to 159 (CO) Fort Garland to 522 (at CO/NM border).


I highly recommend Wheeler Peak for those who have not done it.
Beautiful scenery.
This was my first time in NM. Duly impressed. Contact me with any questions about the drive/hike/conditions.