Started at main Taos parking lot (TH sign). Followed Bull of the Woods trail to Wheeler Peak Trail summitting Frazer Mountain, Mount Walter, Wheeler Peak, and Simpson Peak. Traversed to Kachina Peak following ridge crest whole way and summitted Points 12,728, 12,819, Lake Fork Peak, Point 12,535 along the way. Descended Cabin Shoot? and pieced together service roads back to Williams Lake TH. Ran down Twining Road back to start (TH sign).
Super windy most of way. Lots of fun scrambling between peaks, 2-little class 3 and 1 short possible 4 downclimb at headwall going to Kachina. This is avoidable I think choosing the gully on the west side of it. I stuck to ridge best as possible entire way. There was ways around some of the harder parts, but there's no fun in that!
Comments
Having done the the Wheeler-Kachina traverse a couple times, once each direction, I believe the accepted locals route is called "Ring of Fire" and follows down Wild West Glade to chair 8 and chair 1, instead of down cabin chute like you did. I was under the thinking that the route goes up Bull of the Woods, around to Wheeler and Kachina, and finishes down the western ski area boundary to create the full loop. Let me know if you had information otherwise.
Hi Sean,
I didn't know there was a locals' route as I am not a local. I chose what I thought was the best line for the route and tried taking the route down that I had found on Summitpost for Kachina.
Also I did take Bull of the Woods Trail, I didn't summit Bull of the Woods Mountain because it has only 126' prominence and didn't look like it'd be too exciting to summit. I just wanted a clean continuous loop.
I just searched for "Ring of Fire" but didn't find any info. Can you post it?
TK
I don’t think there is a “standard route” and I’ve only ever heard locals call it “the cirque.” I’ve never heard “the ring of fire”—seems like a silly name in any case. For what it’s worth. I’ll do a speed attempt on it this fall.