Wheeler Peak, New Mexico, June 2006

A few pictures from our June 2006 attempt at summiting the highest point in New Mexico, Wheeler Peak. This time it was Scott who was unable to join us at the top (namely because he didn't go on the trip...I guess his boss would not let him off...you know this habit of choosing the commerce over the adventure is becoming worrisome, right Benedict?). Anyway, Jason and I made it to the top after a grueling day. We chose to take the longer route through Bull-of-the-Woods Pasture (where we stayed the first night) and then summit the peak the next morning. Total trip was 15.8 miles and we gained just under 7,000 vertical feet. Wheeler peaks out at 13,161 feet making it the 8th highest state highpoint in America and our highest to date. The hike was strenuous but along graded trail the entire way. Had God choosen to provide a little more oxygen at 13,000 feet we would have made it much quicker than the 4 hours it took us. There was no scrambling over scree on this trip which was a nice change for my knee. The top picture is Jason just short of Wheeler Peak (the peak is up over that rise, that is not the peak itself). Just prior to Wheeler Peak you have to summit Walter Peak and then give up a quick couple of hundred feet before gaining it right back and reaching the actual peak. This next picture is the two of us atop the peak. We didn't stay long as we were run off the mountain by a particularly vicious hail storm. When you add hail and 50 mph sustained winds you get a pretty brutal combination. New Mexico had not had rain for weeks and was under an EXTREME level of fire warning. Leave it to us to be drought busters. The rain set in for the next 6 hours and was mixed with the occassional pea-sized hail. We husteled back to camp (wet and weary) and hunkered down in the tent to ride it out.

Here is the cannister at the highpoint. We didn't have long to leave deep thoughts!










The last picture is just a reference picture. It was actually taken on the way up (on the way back we were buffeted by gale force winds) and shows Walter in the background.