14ers.com

FYI
Info from the Forest Service regarding the Silver Pick trailhead...

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Silver Pick Trail and Wilson Peak Access Update
In October of 2007, The Colorado office of the Trust for Public Land (TPL) finalized the purchase of 230 acres of properties in the Silver Pick Basin needed to help reestablish public access to Wilson Peak through this access point. While the land purchase is the first step in reopening access through Silver Pick Basin, this route will remain closed until some easements are formally established and necessary trail improvements are completed. Since TPL currently owns the two claims on the SW Ridge, the public can now access Wilson Peak via Navajo Basin or Bilk Basin.

Partners in this project estimate that July 2010 is a likely timeframe for reestablishing public access from Silver Pick Basin. The property will be conveyed to the US Forest Service at a later time.

Updates on the situation will be posted here as they develop. To respect the agreements reached in this issue, please do not attempt to access the Rock of Ages Saddle via Silver Pick Basin until work in the area is complete.

Questions/Answers
1. Question: Can I still hike to the summit of Wilson Peak on the standard route?
Answer: Yes. Legal access to Rock of Ages Saddle and the southwest ridge of the peak has been restored for climbers entering from either Navajo Basin or Bilk Basin.
2. Question: What route could I use to skirt the private land in Silver Pick Basin?
Answer: There are no alternative routes through Silver Pick Basin at this time.
3. Question: Can I still access Wilson Peak and the other two Fourteeners in this group(El Diente and Mount Wilson)? How?
Answer: Yes, there is access to Wilson Peak, El Diente and Mount Wilson from six of the other wilderness trailheads: Navajo, Kilpacker, Cross Mountain, Lizard Head Pass, Bilk Basin, and Woods Lake. The Navajo Trail is the shortest, most direct route into Navajo Basin. Please note that campfires are prohibited in the entire Navajo Basin – Navajo Lake area. This area is clearly marked on the Trails Illustrated® – TOPO Map #141.



Kathy Peckham
Recreation Staff
Norwood Ranger District

Bilk Creek TH is a great way to climb Wilson Peak...or the sunshine mesa trailhead...

Bill,

Will the re-opening of Silver Pick also provide access to Mt. Wilson?

Don

Mt. Wilson and El Diente Peak are currently accessible from Navajo Basin, but yes, if you start at the new Silver Pick TH, you'll be able to go over Rock of Ages saddle and climb either of those two peaks.

Here's an up-to-date access update on Wilson Peak from the USFS Norwood Ranger District:
As this is written on April 13, 2010, access to the peak via the traditional standard route from the north through Silver Pick Basin remains closed. The access road along the Wilson Mesa Trail has been partially graded and work is to be finalized by the end of September. Trail signage is being done and most of the new Rock of Ages Trail has already been constructed in upper Silver Pick by the Forest Service, CMC, and the Telluride Mountain Club.
Access to the standard southwest ridge route on Wilson Peak remains open via other routes. These include Navajo Basin from the west; and Bilk Basin from the east. Access to Bilk Basin can be gained from either Lizard Head Pass or from Sunshine Mesa.
Any further changes will be posted on: http://www.cmc.org/recreation/recreation_access.aspx

For those that have done both approaches -silver pick and navajo- which way is better? I like the idea that silver pick once opened is a few miles shorter, but shorter isn't always better.

The Navajo Basin approach is much more scenic than Silver pick...longer too.

JA_son27 wrote:For those that have done both approaches -silver pick and navajo- which way is better? I like the idea that silver pick once opened is a few miles shorter, but shorter isn't always better.

Until Silver Pick opens... Don't forget Woods Lake as a path to base camp at Navajo Lake. This trail joins the Navajo trail about 1/2 mile before the basin.
Having hiked both it and Navajo, I enthusiastically recommend WL over the Navajo approach.
This comes up every year (and I pimp it each year), so if you don't get more feedback here, a quick search should yield lots of discussion. If I remember correctly, most folks side with WL.
I prefer it because it's more scenic, with a sick view of El Diente on the way in. There are also a few ranked 13ers (e.g. 13123) that you could include on a trip using WL.
People coming from points north (e.g. Denver) usually appreciate that it saves a lot of driving vs. crossing LH pass over to the Dunton road (Navajo/Kilpacker).

Thanks DEL!

Perfect timing on the updates too, as The Android and I are just starting to plan a Wilson's trip for mid-late May.

I just now received this "official" word on this subject;

Not until June 2011. I have attached a brochure and a map for your viewing.




Liz Allridge
Business Management Assistant
GMUG NF Norwood Ranger District
PO Box 388
Norwood CO 81423
970-327-4261 X 4350

del_sur wrote:

JA_son27 wrote:For those that have done both approaches -silver pick and navajo- which way is better? I like the idea that silver pick once opened is a few miles shorter, but shorter isn't always better.

Until Silver Pick opens... Don't forget Woods Lake as a path to base camp at Navajo Lake. This trail joins the Navajo trail about 1/2 mile before the basin.
Having hiked both it and Navajo, I enthusiastically recommend WL over the Navajo approach.
This comes up every year (and I pimp it each year), so if you don't get more feedback here, a quick search should yield lots of discussion. If I remember correctly, most folks side with WL.
I prefer it because it's more scenic, with a sick view of El Diente on the way in. There are also a few ranked 13ers (e.g. 13123) that you could include on a trip using WL.
People coming from points north (e.g. Denver) usually appreciate that it saves a lot of driving vs. crossing LH pass over to the Dunton road (Navajo/Kilpacker).

How long is the hike from the Woods Lake trailhead to camp at Navajo Lake?