Wheeler Lake
The day didn't start as well as we'd hoped. As we drove up Highway 285 we thought we saw Robert on the side of the road with his hood up. While we were waiting at the gas station, Robert showed up. He let us know that he is still having problems overheating and if he suddenly disappeared from our rear view mirrors that we were not to worry, because he was heading home. Robert ended up having Jeep troubles and was having issues making it up the hills so he turned around and went back.
The rest of us got to the trailhead and aired down. A couple of 4-wheeling groups passed by us, and we would see them several times before the day was over. Once we were ready to go, we headed to the old mine and the falls. The water was moving at a high rate of speed. It felt good standing next to the water with the spray hitting you in the face. It really cooled you off! We took a bunch of pictures and enjoyed the view, then we were off.
At the first obstacle, we climbed the far right side for some good wheel stands. Dane had a great one! Without any problems there, we headed up to a great spot to have lunch by a little pond. It was a very nice lunch.
Then we were off to the second obstacle. This is much like the first obstacle only reversed. We stayed to the far left and climbed the rock. Derek took a couple of attempts, but climbed it without any help.
We ran into a half-dozen vehicles climbing Bowling Ball Hill, so we waited for our turn. This hill seems to get easier every year, and this year was no exception. We climbed it without pause.
We arrived at the lake at about 1:30PM and found a few more vehicles waiting for us. There were about 25 vehicles scattered around the lake. We found out that the South Park City 4 Wheelers were doing their bi-annual trail clean up. We talked to them for half an hour or so. Someone in their group had ripped their front lower control arm mount off. It was fun watching them try to repair it, especially because it wasn't one of us!
Don and I went for a nice hike in hopes of finding another waterfall around the corner. No such luck. While standing at the top of the mountain mulling over our options for descent, a rather loud thunder clap reverberated through the little valley. It was rather amusing watching all the little people and Jeeps scramble to leave the area. Don and I headed down to make our escape. Not far down the mountain the rain began to pelt us.
We thought we were done, but then we remembered that we had to go back down those rocks -- in the rain! We thought it would be fun, though, and it was. We ran into a couple of vehicles on their way down, as well. Soon, we had a group of about 9 or 10 vehicles, all of us following each other down the trail.
While at the first obstacle we ran into a Ford Ranger stuck in a spot he shouldn't have been in. After a little tug from a winch he was okay again.
We stopped at Montgomery Reservoir to air back up at 5:00PM, and then headed to Breckenridge for dinner at Bubba Gump's. Dane and Don decided that they would skip dinner with us and meet their wives for dinner, instead. Derek and Dave finished dinner and went home, with no trail damage for a change.
Heading down Floyd Hill on I-70 we saw an 18-wheeler sliding into the river. That was a ride to remember! We were glad that nobody was hurt. It was a strange end to a nearly perfect day.
Reports from Other Days: 6
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.
