Quick report, since it's a state highpoint I thought there might be some interest. Or just go straight for the pictures.
Our group (8 from Los Alamos, two intrepid Colorado Mountain Club members who drove down from CO Springs) stayed in the Abominable SnowMansion above Taos. Roughly Hiker's Paradise level of quality and cost, a little bit funky but $18 well spent. Decent kitchen where we had a group breakfast by yours truly.
We went up the Williams Lake route and descended Bull-of-the-Woods (now called Wheeler Peak trail by the Forest Service), making for about 11mi and 3000' gain according to one GPS. I highly recommend this loop if you can arrange the car spot. The first couple of miles are a gentle climb on good trail to Williams Lake, a bit chilly in the morning but nice woods. From the lake it's a very steep ascent, first up a worn grass slope and then scree. People have been avoiding the scree and the surrounding tundra is badly trampled; the southwest has not yet learned lessons about indiscriminate heavy use.
Once attaining the ridge it's a very short extra bit to the summit, with (of course) fantastic views in every direction. We had a perfect bluebird day, a little before peak color, so things were pretty crowded. After that it's a few miles of long ridgewalk, losing a little elevation. We ran into some bighorn sheep just before dropping back into the trees for the last few miles and slightly sharper descent. A few of us ran ahead to retrieve the cars from the start and made the last 3mi/1500' drop in just under an hour. Total time on-trail was just over 8 hours; we were somewhat slowed by one person who had only come from sea level a few weeks ago and hadn't done as much mountain hiking, but was an absolute trouper.
Great route, great day, and a great group. One of those highpoints which is well worth it.
Our group (8 from Los Alamos, two intrepid Colorado Mountain Club members who drove down from CO Springs) stayed in the Abominable SnowMansion above Taos. Roughly Hiker's Paradise level of quality and cost, a little bit funky but $18 well spent. Decent kitchen where we had a group breakfast by yours truly.
We went up the Williams Lake route and descended Bull-of-the-Woods (now called Wheeler Peak trail by the Forest Service), making for about 11mi and 3000' gain according to one GPS. I highly recommend this loop if you can arrange the car spot. The first couple of miles are a gentle climb on good trail to Williams Lake, a bit chilly in the morning but nice woods. From the lake it's a very steep ascent, first up a worn grass slope and then scree. People have been avoiding the scree and the surrounding tundra is badly trampled; the southwest has not yet learned lessons about indiscriminate heavy use.
Once attaining the ridge it's a very short extra bit to the summit, with (of course) fantastic views in every direction. We had a perfect bluebird day, a little before peak color, so things were pretty crowded. After that it's a few miles of long ridgewalk, losing a little elevation. We ran into some bighorn sheep just before dropping back into the trees for the last few miles and slightly sharper descent. A few of us ran ahead to retrieve the cars from the start and made the last 3mi/1500' drop in just under an hour. Total time on-trail was just over 8 hours; we were somewhat slowed by one person who had only come from sea level a few weeks ago and hadn't done as much mountain hiking, but was an absolute trouper.
Great route, great day, and a great group. One of those highpoints which is well worth it.
