"Amy and I are preparing to hike Kilimanjaro at the end of the summer. This is our 5th peakbagging hike, plus lots of cardio hikes together. (Blasting up the Sandia Mountains for an hour, regrouping then blasting down.) I thought it would be good preparation for us to reach over 13,000 feet in elevation. This is my 6th time hiking Wheeler Peak. Amy and I left Calvary Church in Albuquerque at about 5:45 AM, August 9, 2025. We drove to the William’s Lake Trailhead, south of the Taos Ski area. We were hiking at about 8:40 AM, taking a little less than a 3 hours drive. It was a cool clear morning, 52 degrees. The starting elevation was 10,261 feet. I carried 18 pounds, including 4 pounds of water. The trail to the top is magnificent and quit varied along the way. We hiked through the bottom of the Taos Ski Area, over an enchanting little bridge, followed a beautiful little stream through a wildflower filled, green grass, forest. At about 2 miles the trail divides and we headed up the mountain following switchbacks. Timberline in New Mexico is about 12,000 feet and when we reached that elevation the world opened up. There were incredible views in all directions. Once we reached that e..." — Phil-Robinson • Aug 9, 2025

"Amy and I are preparing to hike Kilimanjaro at the end of the summer. This is our 5th peakbagging hike, plus lots of cardio hikes together. (Blasting up the Sandia Mountains for an hour, regrouping then blasting down.) I thought it would be good preparation for us to reach over 13,000 feet in elevation. This is my 6th time hiking Wheeler Peak. Amy and I left Calvary Church in Albuquerque at about 5:45 AM, August 9, 2025. We drove to the William’s Lake Trailhead, south of the Taos Ski area. We were hiking at about 8:40 AM, taking a little less than a 3 hours drive. It was a cool clear morning, 52 degrees. The starting elevation was 10,261 feet. I carried 18 pounds, including 4 pounds of water. The trail to the top is magnificent and quit varied along the way. We hiked through the bottom of the Taos Ski Area, over an enchanting little bridge, followed a beautiful little stream through a wildflower filled, green grass, forest. At about 2 miles the trail divides and we headed up the mountain following switchbacks. Timberline in New Mexico is about 12,000 feet and when we reached that elevation the world opened up. There were incredible views in all directions. Once we reached that e..." — Phil-Robinson • Aug 9, 2025

"My 1st New Mexico peakbagging goal, of a very inclusive list, was all of the 12K and 13K peaks, (Now 87). My 2nd goal was all of the 11K peaks, (Now 80). My 3rd goal was the highest 102 major peaks with all the minor peaks in between. (Now adding 27 upper 10K peaks, everything above 10,837) My goal was to do them as respectfully as possible and after meeting with the Taos War Chief, written about in my last trip report, I made my 3 goals. All 194 highest peaks in New Mexico! (-2) I kind of have a new goal, not quite ready to state, but part of it is to increase the very inclusive list of the highest NM peaks. Two peaks were in my sites; Peak 12,283 and Peak 11,893, the latter listed in Mike Butterfield’s book, “Guide to the Mountain’s of NM, and the former a very impressive visual peak with a 1000-foot drop on 3 sides. Both were located near the iconic peak, Gold Hill 12,700.’ I last hiked this peak in 2003. I have some nice lady connections, but the only single lady I knew who could vigorously hike some challenging peaks and enjoy it was Amy. I asked her about going, and she was excited to go. We met at Calvary Church’s parking lot in Albuquerque at 6:00 AM and headed north to..." — Phil-Robinson • Sep 14, 2024

"Got started on this hike around 7:30 and finished at 1. The hike is well laid out for a gradual but challenging ascent of Wheeler Peak. I also made a quick addition of its neighboring peak, Mt Walter. The New Mexico state high point now gets checked off. That’s only state high point #7 for me. I got a long way to go to make a dent in that challenge." — MikeTeeples • Jul 24, 2024

"Got started on this hike around 7:30 and finished at 1. The hike is well laid out for a gradual but challenging ascent of Wheeler Peak. I also made a quick addition of its neighboring peak, Mt Walter. The New Mexico state high point now gets checked off. That’s only state high point #7 for me. I got a long way to go to make a dent in that challenge." — MikeTeeples • Jul 24, 2024