Two Peaks Above 11,600 Feet
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 1:38 pm
I knew we needed to climb Wheeler and Patterson, but all of the reports I read were about starting at or near Lobdell Lake. This requires a hike of over 16 miles with about 4000 feet of elevation gain. Now distance and elevation gain don’t really bother us. Hell, we bag peaks for fun! 
But we aren’t crazy! If there is an easier way to skin a cat, just ask Calipidder!
Sport found a report she wrote about her and David climbing these two peaks last summer. They climbed them the smart way…6.6 miles with about 1000 feet of elevation.
When she showed me Rebecca’s report I was like WOO HOO! Most of the climb from the east side is done with a four wheel drive.
We took Forest Service Roads and spent the night in Star City. The Aspens are just starting to turn.
The next morning we were met by a big buck that nearly walked through our campsite.
We climbed up over a mile on a very rocky 4 X 4 bench road up to Belfort. There are a few mining era cabins still remaining at Belfort.
We continued driving up past the dry lake and across the plateau at 10,640 feet. We could have continued driving from this point but at some point driving to the peak becomes “cheating”.
We parked the truck at the south end of this plateau and hiked west up the ridge.
This is a shot from the top of the ridgeline looking back down at her Honda Ridgeline parked on the plateau below.
We met back up with the road and headed off toward Wheeler Peak.
There are signs reminding the Vroom Vrooms to stay on the designated roads.
We approached the summit of Wheeler.
To be continued…
But we aren’t crazy! If there is an easier way to skin a cat, just ask Calipidder!Sport found a report she wrote about her and David climbing these two peaks last summer. They climbed them the smart way…6.6 miles with about 1000 feet of elevation.
When she showed me Rebecca’s report I was like WOO HOO! Most of the climb from the east side is done with a four wheel drive.
We took Forest Service Roads and spent the night in Star City. The Aspens are just starting to turn.
The next morning we were met by a big buck that nearly walked through our campsite.
We climbed up over a mile on a very rocky 4 X 4 bench road up to Belfort. There are a few mining era cabins still remaining at Belfort.
We continued driving up past the dry lake and across the plateau at 10,640 feet. We could have continued driving from this point but at some point driving to the peak becomes “cheating”.
We parked the truck at the south end of this plateau and hiked west up the ridge.
This is a shot from the top of the ridgeline looking back down at her Honda Ridgeline parked on the plateau below.
We met back up with the road and headed off toward Wheeler Peak.
There are signs reminding the Vroom Vrooms to stay on the designated roads.
We approached the summit of Wheeler.
To be continued…
We did however find two empty tobacco tins.