Simpson Peak

"Day 1: My daughter Christina came to town for a 2 week visit and we made plans to have a 3 day peakbagging and backpacking adventure. I originally planned for us to peakbag in the Pecos Wilderness, but fire restrictions closed the area. We decided to go to the Wheeler Peak Wilderness, home of the highest peak in New Mexico. We left the house at 5:00 AM, June 15, 2018. We drove to the town of Red River then went south on Highway 578 to the East Fork Parking area. We arrived at 8:20 and were hiking by 8:40. The starting elevation was 9630 and it was a cool clear morning. Christina brought her dog Bane along for the trip. I had a 34 pound pack and Christina had a 29 pound pack and Bane a little pack with food. New Mexico was in the middle of a drought, so I was surprised how lush and green everything was. We could hardly find a square meter that did not have wildflowers in it. We started hiking on Trail 56, later this turned into Trail 91. I have 2 speeds of hiking, one is a slow a pace, but I can do it all day without stopping. Then I have a “let’s move it” pace. I used the slow pace, and except for some standing pictures stops, we did not stop all the way until we reached our cam..." — Phil-Robinson • Jun 16, 2018

"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. We left on Sept. 14, 2007. We went through the town of Red River and arrived at the Wheeler Wilderness parking area. We hiked 5 1/2 miles, to the end of Sawmill Creek, with full backpacks. We set up our base camp in a forested area at the very end of the stream. The next morning we left early to conquer 4 mountain peaks. We used our GPS and headed to 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. Finally we were out and made Taos Cone, 12,240 feet. We headed towards Red Dome, when we were met with gun shots. We did not know we had crossed over into the Taos Indian Reservation. (Maybe a few signs?) We went back to talk. The Indian Reservation rangers gave us their card and said it would be OK to visit the peaks. We then did Red Dome, 12,661 feet, followed third highest peak in NM, Old Mike Peak, 13,113 feet, then over to Simpson Peak, 12976 feet. We then had to make the return trip to our base camp which included re-climbing some peaks. It was one of the hardest single day hikes we both have been done. We hiked 10 1/2 miles over a 9 hour and 15 minute time..." — Phil-Robinson • Sep 15, 2007