Go short. No, go long....
On our road trip to AZ08, Flagstaff, one of our goals was Wheeler. We researched trail info, read trip reports, and learned there were 2 popular routes: Williams Lake Trail, short (7 rt) but steep w/scree, and Bull-of-the-Woods (16 rt), over twice as long but gradual. When we contacted both HP Club NM liaisons for advice, one told us to "go long"; the other advised "go short." Well...back to square one. Once in the area, Taos and Ski Valley, local hikers seemed to lean more toward "short." So we did.
It was steep and there was scree but both were doable. Threatening clouds appeared about 2/3s the way, not to mention temp drop, poor visibilit
y, wind, and sleet. I wound up solo, struggling with and cursing at the scree. Once in the saddle, I forgot - go left or right? I remembered...right. The ridge was akin to a dragon's back as I made my over it's humps, looking for the hump that would be Wheeler. The wind and sleet were getting serious and, as I was about to settle for the 3rd hump, return, and claim I made it, two hikers in shorts and cotton jerseys appeared out of the cloud. Which way to Wheeler? I asked the lead man. This way, he pointed as he roared by, disappearing into the white curtain which was hiding the 360 view I would never get from up here.At the summit plaque I asked the rear power hiker to take 3 quick shots of me. He said his hands were too frozen but took the camera and clicked 3 off - the only pics I was to get on top. Then it was time to get down...NOW! We 3 headed out together. The 2 had come up long and now wore ponchos. I needed to find the scree in the saddle, but spied another nicely defined down trail after the 2nd hump. The lead guy told me it looked like a good trail. I took it, knowing better. Soon the sleet was masking this path and I had no idea where I was going except down. Where was the scree and the ascent drainage trail to return on? I slipped once on the sleet and again on wet grass. I had talkie contact w/Diane who was now back at the lake. I reported being lost. She said she was cold and was going to the car. No, I told her, not yet because I'm friggin' lost. As I dropped lower, the sleet let up and visibility improved. I glimpsed the trail and headed for it. The left drainage would have resulted in a bushwhack.
The summit pics came back from processing. Two of the 3 shots were blurred. One worked. (See here). I got a better shot of a marmot. How I hate to hand my camera to a stranger but couldn't take the time setting up my Leki hike pole/monopod in that environ.
Recommendation: Bite the bullet - just go short on Wheeler but choose a better day.
