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…
Two Peaks Above 11,600 Feet
- Vaca Russ
- Topix Expert
- Posts: 809
- Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 3:12 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
- Location: The Nut Tree
Two Peaks Above 11,600 Feet
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
"...Or have you only comfort, and the lust for comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and then becomes a host and then a master?"
Kahil Gibran.
Kahil Gibran.
- Vaca Russ
- Topix Expert
- Posts: 809
- Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 3:12 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
- Location: The Nut Tree
Re: Two Peaks Above 11,600 Feet
This is a shot of her on the summit of Wheeler Peak. That is Mount Patterson to her right.
Once again there was no register to be found. We did however find two empty tobacco tins.
Then we headed back down to the road to continue on toward Patterson.
The landscape at this elevation is somewhat moonlike.
Except that I’m not so sure there is so much snow and ice on the moon.
The snow got deeper as we approached Patterson.
This is a picture of her on the summit of Mount Patterson. That is South Sister just above her sign.
We could find no register on the summit of this peak as well. We then headed back to the truck along the long high elevation road.
We did snap this picture of the Sawtooth Ridge.
Thanks for reading our report and a big thanks to Calipidder and David for sharing their adventure!
-Russ
Once again there was no register to be found. We did however find two empty tobacco tins.
Then we headed back down to the road to continue on toward Patterson.
The landscape at this elevation is somewhat moonlike.
Except that I’m not so sure there is so much snow and ice on the moon.
The snow got deeper as we approached Patterson.
This is a picture of her on the summit of Mount Patterson. That is South Sister just above her sign.
We could find no register on the summit of this peak as well. We then headed back to the truck along the long high elevation road.
We did snap this picture of the Sawtooth Ridge.
Thanks for reading our report and a big thanks to Calipidder and David for sharing their adventure!
-Russ
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
"...Or have you only comfort, and the lust for comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and then becomes a host and then a master?"
Kahil Gibran.
Kahil Gibran.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 31 guests