Wheeler Peak

After hiking up Delano Peak we spent the next day moving over to Great Basin National Park. It's actually a relatively short drive from the Tushar Range. Three hours or so. 

Next day we elected to hike up Wheeler Peak. At 13,063' it is the second highest peak in Nevada only slightly shorter than Boundary Peak in the White Mountains close to our home.

We got an early start to beat the heat and the thunderstorms. This was our first full view of the peak (right).

The first couple of miles of trail climb gently in nice aspen and pine forest.

Then the trail breaks out into open meadows.

At tree line the views widen. Looking northwest into Spring Valley.

Soon we found ourselves in stark alpine terrain.

The trail is mostly quite good with a few sections of loose shale like this one.

This zone provides a nice respite before tackling the final slopes to the summit.

A huge chute descends from the summit all the way to the valley floor. Skiing anyone?

Just below the summit the trail steepens dramatically. The flowers brighten the mood though!

On top!

The view over to Jeff Davis Peak.

Views south along the spine of the Snake Range.

The east summit is definitely lower but nevertheless has this large cairn built on it.

On the descent we took our time and did a bit of flower sniffing!

At around 12,000' we spied this lone deer foraging!

The clouds built throughout the day but never organized into showers.

Feet up at camp afterwards!

Another fine day in the mountains of the Great Basin!