Wheeler Geologic Area

Yesterday, thanks to Mike and Kim and the use of two of their ATVs, I made it with them (and Aden) to the remote area of other wordly formations -- unlike anything else I have seen.  We left the RV park around 8:00 a.m. expecting a long day and hoping the weather would hold out long enough for us to make the 13 mile trip up the four-wheel section of the rough road.  From that starting point, the other option would be to take the 7 mile hike down and through the large bouldered, rocky gulch that the four-wheeler road runs around and through the beautiful wooded mountainsides (much of the area has been ravaged by the Pine-bark Beetles as evidenced by the downed trees surrounding the only manmade restroom facilities in the Wilderness Area).

The drive up Pool Table Road seemed to be erroneous in nomenclature as the dirt road climbed steadily like a washboard to the point where 4-wheelers are required.  When we arrived at the start of the dirt road in Mike and Kim's truck with the trailer and ATVs, there already was a caravan of Jeeps lined up and starting to make the run up the mountain -- thankfully, we weren't switching to the ATVs at this point as we would have had to eat their dust all the way up the dusty 8 or 10 mile stretch of road.

Kim and Aden on the Gator

Mike had tried to make this same trip last week with his daughters Kim and Kendra, Aden and Marilyn (his mother-in-law) but, they had to turn back halfway up the 4-wheeler section of road because they were hit with heavy rain, sleet/hail and quickly dropping temperatures (40 degrees when they turned around).  We had mostly nice weather for the trip up to the end of the bumpy, rutted, rocky road and I made good use of the handles of the ATV that I road in with Mike.

Me and Mike in the 4-seater

The caravan of Jeeps let us pass them in the first couple of miles and we continued around and up and down the mountainsides and through the woods and tight sections of the rough road -- not one I would want to take my Jeep on.  We had hoped to see at least a few deer, Elk or Moose along the way but, were left to only think we had seen glimpses of something moving through the woods and the occasional footprints near the road.  There were lots of cows, steers and hefers along the way as we drove through the grassy pastures and small valleys.

Kim and Aden lead the way.

When we finally arrived at the end of the road near the wayside signage, it was shortly after noon and we all drank some water or Gatorade and had some snacks before starting the hike around the area.  Just before we started the hike, a young couple with backpacks came off the trail and passed by us on their way back onto the trail through the gulch -- they gave us some helpful hints about which forks in the trail to take (soon they were joined by the third member of their party a 76 year old man for the other half of their 14 mile day hike and they headed off -- as did we).

Our approach to the area could be sensed from some distance and the surrounding flat-topped mountains gave some feeling of a large crater having existed at one time (an aerial shot would have been nice to confirm the formations).



Approaching Wheeler Area

Using the directions given by the young couple with backpacks, we started the half-mile or more hike around the area to discover what we could see -- and find the stream we could hear nearby too.  The stream actually made more noise than its real-size would show -- perhaps the echoing sound of the area magnified it to a higher level.



Start of the hike into the area.

Poor Mike and Kim were sharing duties to carry young Aden along the trail and I could only think what a tiring task that was at the altitude we were presently at (some 10,840 feet).  We eventually made it to the "Overlook" and the welcome sight of the bench nearby -- a breather well deserved for Mike and Kim (I got their first at about 12:45 p.m.).

View from the Overlook Area