LoJ: #151 (Pre-LiDAR #149) / 13,698' Wheeler Mountain

Our route description will assume a start from the trailhead parking at the western end of Montgomery Reservoir. We do this in part because many hikers with stock 4WD vehicles, may not want to test their trusty steed on the rigors of the 4WD, single track road up to Wheeler Lake. Roach proposes driving in stock vehicles as far as 11,680 feet. This is approximately where the road turns NW and begins a steeper climb up to Wheeler Lake. That's where conditions become much worse. Many drivers will find themselves questioning whether or not to proceed on this road back at the Magnolia Mine area, so we offer the route description as beginning from there. This route description will also include information about Traver and McNamee.

Walk west up the road along the middle fork of the South Platte. The road stays on the north side of the drainage. During summer months you can expect to encounter some large potholes of water and mud that may force you over into the willows, which are quite numerous. Just before the road begins the climb up to Wheeler Lake, there is a fork that heads off to the left and goes down to cross the creek. That old fork will not gain you any advantage. Where the main road does make a sharp right turn toward Wheeler Lake, if you wish to avoid the lake, you can head west up a couloir to the flatter, basin area above the rock outcrops and cliffs which sits at the foot of Traver, McNamee and Clinton. Otherwise, continue to the lake. It is possible to find some tent sites here if you want to backpack into this lovely location.

From the lake, follow the old road along the west shore, then turn west up a fairly large gully that will grant access to the same flatter basin area below Traver, McNamee and Clinton. From here if you wish to avoid the tour de basin by hiking over Traver and McNamee, you could head WSW up the basin to its head, then head NW up to the summit of Clinton over mostly Class 2 talus. The lower section of this basin has tundra, rock outcrops and talus.

For the full tour, head SW up the basin to about 12,900 feet. Make a turn to the south and gain a minor, broad ridge that comes off the ENE ridge of Traver. Walk up that minor ridge, gain the ENE ridge and follow it to the summit of Traver over mostly Class 2 rubble. It's 1.8 miles from the lake or 5.4 miles from the TH to the Traver summit. From the summit of Traver, head NW along another ridge that connects over to McNamee. The easy ridge is Class 2 with some rubble, tundra and embedded rock. You'll only need to regain about 160 feet from the connecting saddle. It's about .45 mile.

From McNamee, follow a similar ridge NNE to the Clinton summit. Still Class 2 with limited tundra, embedded rocks and rubble. You'll only need to regain about 160 feet in elevation. The distance is a little over a half mile. From Clinton, you'll be able to look down upon the Climax Mine operation. There is also a ridge from the summit of Clinton that heads in a NW direction and connects over to the remnants of Bartlett. If only climbing Clinton, you can drop from the summit SE back into the basin below and rejoin your route that came up from Wheeler Lake for a descent. Otherwise, continue on east, then NE on a high ridge to reach Wheeler.