OTHER Trip Report 01/12/2018

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Wheeler Peak, NM - 13161
Date Posted	01/12/2018
Modified	09/03/2018
Date Climbed	10/25/2017
Author	scvaughn

Wheeler Peak, NM
Greetings, everyone. I do love Colorado, and travel there as often as possible, but when I found myself in Taos last August, I made an executive decision to climb to the top of the highest point in New Mexico via the standard route. The day began at about 3:30 AM, and after a 40 minute drive I was on Trail 90, or the 'Bull of the Woods Trail,' at 5:10. This route is about 14.5 miles round-trip, and features 4,550' of elevation gain. It begins in the parking lot of the Taos Ski Valley, heads Northeast through a valley, then swings Southward along a ridge, towards the summit. The temperature was a balmy 18 degrees F, and a thin coating of patchy ice was present upon on the trail, but I felt no need for traction aids. The trail begins on a 4wd road, and eventually narrows to singletrack. I was all alone in a forest of 40' tall spruce trees, with a universe of stars burning so brightly that I could have managed without a head lamp. After about two hours of hiking, the sun began to rise. Mountain sunrises are my favorite kind, and alpensky was present in full force. I caught a bit of alpenglow on Gold Hill (12,711') as I passed the ski area on the other side of the valley. At this point, I was well above the treeline, and making excellent progress. The path zig-zagged across grassy slopes, eventually descended back into the tress, across a frozen stream, then up a sizable bowl to the top of the ridge. Mt. Walter is but a nub on the ridge to Wheeler Peak. Wheeler Peak, as seen from Mt. Walter. I arrived at the summit just before 9:00 AM, and signed the register. My phone had three bars of service, so I sent a few texts and relaxed a bit before heading down. Looking back along the route, one can see Culebra Peak. The obligatory USGS marker shot. Angel Fire is this way. Taos is behind Old Mike Peak (13,113') and Simpson Peak (12, 978'), from left to right. The shadow of Wheeler Peak. If you look to the middle-right, you can see the Taos Ski Valley village. The chairlift to Kachina Peak looks so small from up here. I returned to my car at about 12:40 PM. It is of note that I saw no other humans until the last half mile of the return trip, and the solitude was appreciated. I would gladly hike this trail again. In all, I believe it was a respectable effort for a human who lives at about 500' above sea level. Cheers! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Wheeler Peak, NM

Greetings, everyone. I do love Colorado, and travel there as often as possible, but when I found myself in Taos last August, I made an executive decision to climb to the top of the highest point in New Mexico via the standard route.

The day began at about 3:30 AM, and after a 40 minute drive I was on Trail 90, or the 'Bull of the Woods Trail,' at 5:10. This route is about 14.5 miles round-trip, and features 4,550' of elevation gain. It begins in the parking lot of the Taos Ski Valley, heads Northeast through a valley, then swings Southward along a ridge, towards the summit. The temperature was a balmy 18 degrees F, and a thin coating of patchy ice was present upon on the trail, but I felt no need for traction aids. The trail begins on a 4wd road, and eventually narrows to singletrack. I was all alone in a forest of 40' tall spruce trees, with a universe of stars burning so brightly that I could have managed without a head lamp. After about two hours of hiking, the sun began to rise.

Mountain sunrises are my favorite kind, and alpensky was present in full force.

I caught a bit of alpenglow on Gold Hill (12,711') as I passed the ski area on the other side of the valley. At this point, I was well above the treeline, and making excellent progress.

The path zig-zagged across grassy slopes, eventually descended back into the tress, across a frozen stream, then up a sizable bowl to the top of the ridge.

Mt. Walter is but a nub on the ridge to Wheeler Peak.

Wheeler Peak, as seen from Mt. Walter.

I arrived at the summit just before 9:00 AM, and signed the register. My phone had three bars of service, so I sent a few texts and relaxed a bit before heading down. Looking back along the route, one can see Culebra Peak.

The obligatory USGS marker shot.

Angel Fire is this way.

Taos is behind Old Mike Peak (13,113') and Simpson Peak (12, 978'), from left to right.

The shadow of Wheeler Peak. If you look to the middle-right, you can see the Taos Ski Valley village. The chairlift to Kachina Peak looks so small from up here.

I returned to my car at about 12:40 PM. It is of note that I saw no other humans until the last half mile of the return trip, and the solitude was appreciated. I would gladly hike this trail again. In all, I believe it was a respectable effort for a human who lives at about 500' above sea level. Cheers!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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