"Bright and early Friday morning, September 21, 2012 my friend Jim Miller and I headed north to hike the highest peak in New Mexico, Wheeler Peak, plus 4 other peaks. We left my house at 5:45 AM, drove to the town of Red River then south on highway 578 to a parking area on the East Fork of the Red River. It took us 4 hours of driving. It was a cool clear fresh crisp morning when we started hiking. We started at 10:00 AM at an elevation of 9630 feet. We left on trail 56 which later turned into trail 91. I hiked Wheeler Peak with my son Garret 6 years ago on the same month. This was before I became an ultralight luxury camper. On that hike I was carrying about 50 pounds. This hike, including all the group gear and two pounds one ounce of prime rib eye steak, I was carrying 35 pounds. (The steak weighed more than my pack.) Our plan was to camp at Lost Lake then hike 5 peaks the next day. On the way up someone told us about a good camping area at Horseshoe Lake so we changed plans and decided to stay there. It was a beautiful forested hike, at times crossing and hiking near a pretty little stream. I have hiked so many peaks this year, 26 before this trip, that I didn’t even feel the hik..." — Phil-Robinson • Sep 22, 2012

"I went on this trip with my son Garret, Sept. 14, 2007. We went through the town of Red River, New Mexico and arrived at the Wheeler Wilderness parking area. After a short hike into the Wheeler Peak Wilderness, the trail divides. One way follows the East Fork of the Red River to Lost and Hidden lakes. We went that way last year hiking Wheeler. The other way follows Sawmill Creak, the next canyon to the east. We hiked 5 1/2 miles, to the headwaters of Sawmill Creek, with full backpacks. We set up our base camp in a forested area at the very end of the stream. We put up our tent and a rainfly. I brought 2 one-pound T-bone steaks and we cooked them over the coals. They were delicious! We enjoyed an evening campfire and went to bed early. The next morning, we left early to conquer 4 mountain peaks. We used our 2 GPSs and headed straight through the thick forest towards the top of Taos Cone. We had to pass through the "forest of fallen trees." It was an obstacle course to reach a clearing near the cone. This was especially difficult for Garret because of “knee issues” related to his work. Finally, we were out and made Taos Cone, 12,240 feet. We headed towards Red Dome, when we were met..." — Phil-Robinson • Sep 15, 2007