145026 |  Last Updated: Feb. 2, 2007
	Home   Teaching  ▶ Research   Highlights    Agent-based Systems    Biological Systems   Statistical Physics   Nonlinear Dynamics  ▶ Publications   Journal Articles   Books   Book Chapters   Proceedings   Other  ▶ Open Problems   What is this?   Diffusion Persistence   Delayed Self-avoiding Walk   CV     Travel schedule    ▶ Dogs   Simba   Hannah   Hiking    ▶ CCNR   External   Internal   Links				Wheeler Peak Dec. 26th, 2005. Ready to go up. I choose to follow the Bull of the Woods trail, due to the steepness of the climb from Williams Lake on the Williams Lake trail. This is a long trail, about 8 miles one way from the trail-head in Taos Ski Valley until Wheeler Peak. I fitted Simba with "Doggles" because he has a senistivity to UV. However it only lasted on him about 2 hours, he kept scratching it off. I don't blame him. The plan was to go to La Cal Basin, camp there over-night and then continue to the peak next day morning. On the way up. Taos ski trails on the right. La Cal Basin just above the tree line. We got off the trail by following someone else's tracks and ended up in the woods. The zig-zagging trail in the front takes up to Wheeler. We would follow that the next day. A view across the ridge line. La Cal Basin is to the left. [2048x1536] resolution version. Lost in the woods and sunk in snow. My weight and the 50lb backpack made every step for me sink till the ground. After realizing that following those tracks was a bad idea, it took me about an hour to get to snow-free higher ground again. It was a lot of work. Near the ridge, in La Cal Basin. Found a patch of tall pinon bushes. Choose and dug out a spot for the tent. The asymmetry of the branches on the bushes indicated the direction of consistent and strong winds. Positioned the tent such that it was protected as much as possible from the winds by the bushes and snow banks. Don't try this at home: this is a kids summer tent! Bought it from Walmart in the summer for about 20 bucks. Very light (less than 2lb) and certainly very un-adequate for winter camping. Had very good clothing though and a 4-season sleeping bag (0°F, -17°C). Complemented the tent with a heavy tarp. It turned out the tarp was an excellent idea. About 5pm, the sun is settling. Ready for the cold and the dark. Sunset I. [2048x1536] resolution version. Sunset II. [2048x1536] resolution version. In the tent. That's one tired dog. This turned out to be the longest night I ever had. Being a kids tent and me being 6'3", I could never extend myself and got cramps occasionally. I was waking up almost every hour. Since after 6pm it got pitch black, there was nothing to do outside. The night lasted about 13 hours. This is what it means to have a bad tent. Our vapours condensed and frooze on the inside of the tent. Looked and felt like we were in a deep freezer. The temperatures outside must have sunk below zero Fahrenheit (-17°C). The winds got very strong over night and blew the tarp off several times. Zig-zagging up towards Wheeler, next morning. Looking back at La Cal Basin. No longer protected by bushes and the ridge, we started to feel the real winds. Horseshoe Lake. The slope was protected from the winds and ready to avalanche, so instead I choose to follow the ridge. There, however, our good old friend the Wind was giving us a beating. On the ridge. [2048x1536] resolution version. If it wasn't for the wind, it would have been a perfect day. I had to lay down among the rocks on occasion for the strong gusts almost swept me off my feet. On the peak. Simba the Hiker Dog. The plaque on the peak. It sais it all. A nice view from the top. [2048x1536] resolution version. The trip back was uneventful and veeeeery loong. Here I am resting, while Simba is guarding over me.