Wheeler Peak

I like a challenge. The elevation difference between Baker, Nevada (5300 feet) and Wheeler Peak (13,063 feet) in Great Basin National Park is nearly 8000 feet. How could I resist? The plan: ride my bike from Baker to the Wheeler Peak trailhead, change into hiking shoes and climb to the top.

Everything actually went according to plan, despite a pretty terrifying late afternoon thunderstorm on an exposed 12,000-foot high ridge. This is the view up the road from Baker near the beginning of the biking portion; the high, treeless peak on the left is Jeff Davis Peak which is blocking the view of Wheeler just behind to the west. Note the tall thunderhead building up in the background - this was a warning of things to come.
This sign tells the story for the biking portion of this adventure.
Almost done with the biking portion at this point. It's pretty amazing to go from hot sagebrush-covered flats to cool evergreen forests near timberline within 10 miles of bike riding. Jeff Davis Peak is the rounded knoll on the left, Wheeler is the high point on the right. Still 3000 feet of hiking to do from here.

Stella Lake, a glacial cirque, along the Wheeler Peak Trail.
On the summit ridge things quickly became dark and downright frightening as lightning started to flash all around. The temperature plummeted, and at one point I could feel "sparks" on the bottoms of my feet as electricity was starting to arc through my rubber-soled boots into the ground! I was able to huddle down against what was left of an old stone shelter and wait out the passing storm.
The sun finally came out and I was able to make the final ascent to the Peak. Behind me is the west face of Jeff Davis.
View to the south at the north face of Baker Peak.
On the trip home, this pioneer cabin near Garrison cought my eye. The final numbers: 16 mile/5500'-net-gain bike ride; 3.75-mile 3000'-hike. Round-trip time was about 6 hours.

Bottom to Top

I've been somewhat obsessed lately with climbing to the top of a mountain completely under my own power. That means no driving up a canyon to a trailhead and climbing from there, but starting at the base of the mountain and biking and hiking all the way to the top. My first challenge was Frisco peak, the highest point in the San Fransisco mountains west of Milford. I tallied about 3600 vertical feet climbing from the foothills to the 9860-foot peak - some biking, some hiking.

I try to remember to snap a photo of the benchmark at the top of the peaks I climb for a couple of reasons. First, these are often historically significant. The disc on Frisco Peak was established in 1971 which is not all that old, but many others were placed back in the 1930s, 1920s, or older. Second, there can be no dispute to whether you actually made it to the top if you have a snapshot of that summit benchmark.

The views from the high West Desert peaks are endless.
On the southwest side of Frisco Peak, west of the communication array, you will find this hang-glider launch pad to oblivion.

The Mineral Mountains west of Beaver are another little-known gem that I was compelled to climb. The high point is the 9580-foot-high aptly named Granite Peak. The color and contrast on this incredible fall trip were unbelievable. Scrambling up the snow-covered granite spires toward the end were a little sketchy but well worth it. Total elevation gain was about 3500 feet.

Above: view from the top.