Well, not this year, probably. Dang it.
For one thing, the peak I see from my window may not be Mt. Wheeler, the highest point in New Mexico at 13,161 feet. Some smartypants is trying to tell me that what we actually see from the east side of the Llano mesa is an also-ran mountain name of “Old Mike” something or other. I feel like I did when my father told me pro wrestling was fixed: this can’t be true! Not that it matters if I’m planning to climb Wheeler. I’m sure I can find it, wherever it is.
On the way to Williams Lake (no, that’s not Mt. Wheeler)
Wheeler is a special irony for me. Five years ago I hiked up to Williams Lake, then took the nearly vertical trail (if that’s what it was) up toward the high ridge to the east, above the timberline. Yes, that’s one of the ways to get to Wheeler, and please note that I didn’t know that at the time! I was just exploring, seeing how high I could go. But a lot of people do go that way to get to Wheeler. I hardly know how, because it’s fearsomely steep. When I did get above the timberline, I swear the ground was so tilted, I was afraid to stand up straight — it would have been a long way down, bouncing off boulders…
Anyway, I went as far as I could — turn-around time determined by the clock, so I could get down before dark — and it was pretty spectacular (see below). The spot where that picture was taken is probably over 12K feet up, at what seems just a short distance from the ridge, and that’s how one gets to the summit of Wheeler Peak. But remember, I was ignorant of that. Now that I’m not, I don’t think I’d try that trail again. There’s a better way to sneak up on that ridge, looks like: the Bull o’ the Woods trail. Longer, but a more gradual climb.
Looking north at 12,000 ft., 9-30-2003
I remember that I could only take a few steps at a time and then had to rest. It wasn’t oxygen starvation so much as just being spent. I also remember that coming back down was hell… I was walking more regularly then but by no means in great condition, and although I made it, it was quite an endurance test I don’t wish to repeat unless someone’s life depends on it. The point is that to get up that mountain and live to tell the tale, I need to be in better shape now than I was then, five years ago. Ulp.
Yesterday, after a long hiatus, I resumed my mostly-daily walks up the mesa. My usual round-trip is a little over two miles, no big deal at all, but the first leg is uphill, which makes it a hike. I did fine, though. And along the way I calculated that the best trail up to Wheeler Peak was at least 14 miles, round-trip, or the equivalent of seven trips up and down the mesa. (For comparison, the Williams Lake route to the top is maybe half that, but vile, unless you’re 20 years old.) This was sobering to contemplate, but at least I had my measure: if I could do my local hike seven times in a single day, I could probably make it up to 13,161 feet and back.
Um…
Okay, I’m not there yet, but we could get creative: I could bite off the distance in smaller chunks by going half-way up and spending the night, then going on to the summit the next day. Heh. That’s the equivalent of only three-and-a-half mesa hikes per day, and a good excuse to buy a new sleeping bag. Of course, I would have to sleep in the woods, but maybe that would work out better than it ever has before.
Something to shoot for, ’cause I ain’t dead yet.
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Isn’t it cool to be way up there, above timberline, where even the trees can’t breathe? Good luck with your venture. I’m sure you can do it — since you ain’t dead yet.