Wheeler Lake
The group was huge this time but we all managed to see each other tackle the big obstacles so it felt smaller than it actually was. We had great weather on the way up, rain on the way down, and the only trail damage was a flat tire for Mike R.
We overshot the entrance to the trail but Road 4 runs all over the place by the Reservoir so it was pretty easy to find. The first obstacle was a blast and a couple of us got some good wheelstands. Some of us took the V at the second obstacle, and some of us took the left line instead. Both were fun and challenging in different ways. Bill managed to do both obstacles by making an "S" turn between them to run both. That was a tight turn for a long wheelbase but he did it with style!
While the front of the group went up Bowling Ball Hill without any problems, the back of the group got sidetracked with a flat tire so we all got to the Lake at different times. The Charles Wells' book, Guide To Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails, mentions a final obstacle that will be tough on stock vehicles if not impossible. We're not sure we even saw it, so this obstacle might not be as hairy as it used to be. In any case, it didn't cause any problems for anyone.
We all had lunch at the Lake (it was chilly and raining off and on), then headed down when the thunder started. That's a pretty high point! The rain made it a different trail on the way down, which was a nice benefit. Some people took a different line on the way down compared to the one they took on the way up, so we all got to do nearly everything the trail offered.
After airing back up at the end of the trail we all headed out for dinner and beverages at the Breckenridge Brewery. It was a good time and we made some new friends!
Reports from Other Days: 5
Use the arrows or dots to flip through the previews of the other reports for Wheeler Lake. Click one of them to read more and see all of the photos from that day.
