Started from Hoosier Pass at 5AM. Took East Ridge to summit North Star. Connected to Wheeler, then to Clinton, then to McNamee, then to Traver. Descended into basin and took 4WD road back. Back at car around 1:45PM. No wind and lots of sun. Actually started to pour, hail, and storm as soon as I got back. The crux of this route is the headwall along the ridge to Wheeler. This ridge rapidly changes from Class 2 to 3 to 4. Trust no rock because there are lots of loose holds. Also, lots of spider webs along the ridge past the headwall. If you hate spiders as much as me, it may make you turn around.
This is actually a great route. Super fun and the route photos, while very helpful, do not capture how fun it was. Solo, without a soul in sight. After Wheeler I went back down the South ridge and up the peak directly south, another fun 45 min RT, easier (only 1-2 Class 3 moves without exposure).
MattK - Jul 27, 2012 7:56 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2012
Nice...real nice
The wife, pup and I from Wheeler Lake. What a great route. Scenic, interesting....all around great day out.
Sarah Simon - May 21, 2012 10:16 am Date Climbed: May 20, 2012
South Ridge via Wheeler Lake
Whoah, loved this mountain, loved the route...not as much snow as there could have been on the slopes, but fresh snow on the scramble sections kept things interesting. Absolutely beautiful day, took a million photos - thanks to Senad for partnering to the summit!
Senad Rizvanovic - May 20, 2012 8:34 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2012
Route Climbed: South Ridge from Wheeler Lake
Great route, me and Sarah Simon topped on top around 11 am. Great route, fun ridge!
Kiefer - Aug 21, 2010 7:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2010
South Ridge
Added this peak on as a bonus peak since it's so close to the connecting point to North Star.
Cool little summit really. Scrambled with Stephanie Lynn.
Stayed mostly to the ridge crest, some early fall snow made it a little more interesting. This was my final 13er in the Tenmile/Mosquito range.
SarahThompson - Sep 10, 2008 1:31 pm Date Climbed: Feb 23, 2007
Nice winter scramble
Jamie and I found a reasonably avy-safe line up the south face from Wheeler Lake to the Clinton - Wheeler saddle. Our route is probably not advisable though in times of high avy danger. The scramble from there to the summit was a lot of fun.
shanahan96 - Jul 23, 2008 10:53 pm Date Climbed: Feb 23, 2007
winter wheeler
climbed the south face from wheeler lake with sarah. just a slog to the clinton-wheeler saddle, yet tons of snow covered scrambling fun after that! quite an enjoyable challenge!
jamie
Brian Kalet - Nov 26, 2007 11:26 am Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2007
we did not even attempt the jeep trail in our subaru so we hiked in, in its entirety. once we gained the ridge the fun began and it was a ton of fun. the rock was untrustworthy in most spots and there was a lot of scrambling and the final pitch to the summit was the most intense..i thrived in this environment. i want more more more class 3's and even higher.
ColoradoScott - Jul 18, 2007 11:55 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2007
South Ridge
I took my 24 year old nephew up this, and it was his first real mountain. The road really does suck, as my 1995 4Runner made it past the first two major obtacles before calling it quits before the 3rd at about 3/4 mi. up from the mine. We took a slighly higher route for the final half of the climb, rather than descending on loose rock. We found a steep dirt chimney that we gained the ridge from. There were a couple of ledge traverses on the east side, followed by more scrambling sections on mostly solid rock. The last 30 feet to the summit are on a narrow exposed ridge making a dandy finish.
Gahugafuga - Jul 3, 2007 11:35 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2007
South Spur Mini-Epic
The headwall on the south spur does NOT go at 4th class, despite appearances that it will. It actually requires a severely exposed chimney climb where every other hold is loose. This leads to a second chimney that has mediocre hands and almost no foot holds. Traverse left of the headwall on easy ledges to a dirt gully. It will save you the horrific down climb I endured to undo my attempt on the headwall.
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: 1 September, 2005
What a great little scramble. I personally think it's one of the top two in the Mosquito/Ten Mile. I didn't think it was very loose at all and the routefinding was no problem.
Had bluebird skies and linked it up with Clinton, Mcnamee and Traver for a grand tour of the area.
theREALCarpeDM - Sep 21, 2023 11:55 am Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2023
Top 200 finisher hikeWent NS-->Wheeler-->Clinton to finish both the top 200 and top 100 peaks in Colorado.
Matt Lemke - Jul 15, 2020 7:57 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2020
Via Montgomery reservoirFun morning jaunt passing wheeler lake enroute. South ridge was a fun scramble too
Liba Kopeckova - Jun 14, 2020 1:00 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2015
from Montgomery Reservoirtons of snow... skied from below the peak.
rmjwinters - Aug 9, 2017 3:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2017
NS to WhelerFrom Hoosier Pass to North Star to Wheeler
kronshage3 - Jul 21, 2017 8:34 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2017
North Star to TraverStarted from Hoosier Pass at 5AM. Took East Ridge to summit North Star. Connected to Wheeler, then to Clinton, then to McNamee, then to Traver. Descended into basin and took 4WD road back. Back at car around 1:45PM. No wind and lots of sun. Actually started to pour, hail, and storm as soon as I got back. The crux of this route is the headwall along the ridge to Wheeler. This ridge rapidly changes from Class 2 to 3 to 4. Trust no rock because there are lots of loose holds. Also, lots of spider webs along the ridge past the headwall. If you hate spiders as much as me, it may make you turn around.
BradBartick - Jul 29, 2016 7:17 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2016
Surprisingly fun south ridgeThis is actually a great route. Super fun and the route photos, while very helpful, do not capture how fun it was. Solo, without a soul in sight. After Wheeler I went back down the South ridge and up the peak directly south, another fun 45 min RT, easier (only 1-2 Class 3 moves without exposure).
MattK - Jul 27, 2012 7:56 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2012
Nice...real niceThe wife, pup and I from Wheeler Lake. What a great route. Scenic, interesting....all around great day out.
Sarah Simon - May 21, 2012 10:16 am Date Climbed: May 20, 2012
South Ridge via Wheeler LakeWhoah, loved this mountain, loved the route...not as much snow as there could have been on the slopes, but fresh snow on the scramble sections kept things interesting. Absolutely beautiful day, took a million photos - thanks to Senad for partnering to the summit!
Senad Rizvanovic - May 20, 2012 8:34 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2012
Route Climbed: South Ridge from Wheeler LakeGreat route, me and Sarah Simon topped on top around 11 am. Great route, fun ridge!
Kiefer - Aug 21, 2010 7:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2010
South RidgeAdded this peak on as a bonus peak since it's so close to the connecting point to North Star.
Cool little summit really. Scrambled with Stephanie Lynn.
Zeke - Feb 3, 2010 5:46 pm
Great PeakI remember this as a sort long day.... dont drink to many Jack and waters before you do a peak like this!
chicagotransplant - Sep 28, 2009 9:57 am Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2009
South RidgeStayed mostly to the ridge crest, some early fall snow made it a little more interesting. This was my final 13er in the Tenmile/Mosquito range.
SarahThompson - Sep 10, 2008 1:31 pm Date Climbed: Feb 23, 2007
Nice winter scrambleJamie and I found a reasonably avy-safe line up the south face from Wheeler Lake to the Clinton - Wheeler saddle. Our route is probably not advisable though in times of high avy danger. The scramble from there to the summit was a lot of fun.
shanahan96 - Jul 23, 2008 10:53 pm Date Climbed: Feb 23, 2007
winter wheelerclimbed the south face from wheeler lake with sarah. just a slog to the clinton-wheeler saddle, yet tons of snow covered scrambling fun after that! quite an enjoyable challenge!
jamie
Brian Kalet - Nov 26, 2007 11:26 am Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2007
South Ridge7 hours roundtrip from 2WD TH.
beefcake - Sep 3, 2007 5:19 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2007
first real class 3south ridge route...
we did not even attempt the jeep trail in our subaru so we hiked in, in its entirety. once we gained the ridge the fun began and it was a ton of fun. the rock was untrustworthy in most spots and there was a lot of scrambling and the final pitch to the summit was the most intense..i thrived in this environment. i want more more more class 3's and even higher.
ColoradoScott - Jul 18, 2007 11:55 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2007
South RidgeI took my 24 year old nephew up this, and it was his first real mountain. The road really does suck, as my 1995 4Runner made it past the first two major obtacles before calling it quits before the 3rd at about 3/4 mi. up from the mine. We took a slighly higher route for the final half of the climb, rather than descending on loose rock. We found a steep dirt chimney that we gained the ridge from. There were a couple of ledge traverses on the east side, followed by more scrambling sections on mostly solid rock. The last 30 feet to the summit are on a narrow exposed ridge making a dandy finish.
Gahugafuga - Jul 3, 2007 11:35 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2007
South Spur Mini-EpicThe headwall on the south spur does NOT go at 4th class, despite appearances that it will. It actually requires a severely exposed chimney climb where every other hold is loose. This leads to a second chimney that has mediocre hands and almost no foot holds. Traverse left of the headwall on easy ledges to a dirt gully. It will save you the horrific down climb I endured to undo my attempt on the headwall.
miztflip - Sep 1, 2005 2:44 pm
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: 1 September, 2005What a great little scramble. I personally think it's one of the top two in the Mosquito/Ten Mile. I didn't think it was very loose at all and the routefinding was no problem.
Had bluebird skies and linked it up with Clinton, Mcnamee and Traver for a grand tour of the area.
Ryan Kowalski - Jul 26, 2005 11:00 pm
Route Climbed: South Spur to East Ridge Date Climbed: 07/17/05Great scramble on a seldom-used rige. The "normal" south ridge is also a classic.