Mt. Wilson Trip Report 04/03/2013

Report Type	Mini
Peak(s)	Mt. Wilson - 14,256 feet Sultan Mountain - 13,375 feet Grand Turk - 13,167 feet Mt. Aetna - 13,747 feet
Date Posted	04/03/2013
Modified	12/08/2015
Date Climbed	03/30/2013
Author	benners
Additional Members	lordhelmut, Elliot, mtnfiend, CALC

Kicking Things Off in the Southern Mountains
TR here: http://exploringtherockies.com/2013/03/30/kicking-things-off-in-the-southern-mountains/

Comments or Questions

dillonsarnelli	these pictures are unreal 4/4/2013 3:41am nice report benners
pioletski	Fabulous, Ben! 4/4/2013 3:45am I have been chomping at the bit for weeks now... thanks for the extra stoke!
taylorzs	Looks sick, 4/4/2013 4:03am Nice job, good to hear there still might be some riding in the San Miguels this May.
jbchalk	Really really really good stuff, Ben... 4/4/2013 4:11am ...congrats to you, Helmut, and your crew!
Dave B	Awesome report... 4/4/2013 12:35pm ...as always. Glad you guys had a successful trip. Thanks for the eye candy.
d_baker	my eyes hurt 4/4/2013 1:31pm I shouldn't have looked at this report. The pictures hurt my eyes. Too much snow for me to miss while I'm down here in the South. I miss snow. :cry: Nice report and descents, guys!
jmc5040	Awesome 4/4/2013 2:12pm Now that sounds like an awesome few days! The photos make me very jealous...
SurfNTurf	Welcome Spring 4/4/2013 2:58pm Great report benners, useful beta on several lesser-known mountains and the photos are killer. The only negative is now I'm trying to figure out how to swing a trip to the SJs this weekend...
lordhelmut	Fine report 4/4/2013 3:09pm Nice re-cap Ben. I want that ”Uncharted Territory” poster from the Monarch Bates Motel. Doesn't get much better with the views and ski potential around Grand Turk and Sultan.
Chicago Transplant	Looks like fun 4/4/2013 5:08pm Nice looking lines and a great report. Here's hoping for a good spring!
mtnfiend	Great TR Ben! 4/4/2013 7:00pm Fun weekend guys. Let's do it again....and soon!
Elliot	getting lucky down south! 4/4/2013 7:02pm I think my luck expired after last weekend...Time to get out early a see some shooting stars again maybe ski some of that powder that closed vail pass for three hrs on Tuesday.
Carl	Love it! 4/4/2013 8:08pm Finally told myself I was going to focus on getting some work done this afternoon and I made the mistake of clicking the trip reports tab. Didn't know if it was going to be you or Brian doing the write up but I have been looking forward to seeing something show up from you guys the last few days and it certainly didn't disappoint. Well done.
CALC	The Legend 4/5/2013 1:04am Nice report Ben it was a blast getting out there with you guys.
jam6880	Are you guys sponsored? 4/5/2013 5:20am SWEET LINES!!!!!!
Floyd	Awesome trip you guys 4/5/2013 3:31pm I'll be posting your license plate in the Silverton area with this TR soon. So... is the Grand Couloir sleddable?
lordhelmut	Depends 4/5/2013 3:35pm @ Floyd - if you throw down enough Gordon's and Palate Wreckers, you might find yourself thinking the Boxcar is sleddable. Not 100% confident in Grand though. You have tree line to check your speed. Maybe you could install some sled crampons??
benners	Thank You 4/5/2013 4:00pm For the kind comments everyone. CALC, thanks again for all the booters. Hopefully the spring lasts for a few more trips like this one. We'll see! Floyd, you can't kid about stuff like that! Specially after what happened to Helmut's car in YB. Luckily most of the tire slashers probably don't frequent 14ers.com, or even know how to operate a computer for that matter. Sledding the Grand eh? Problem is fall line takes you straight into a talus field about 2/3 of the way down. Might be possible with a parachute though...
CincyBearcats	Nice work! 4/5/2013 4:57pm Super duper TR! Really enjoyed reading of your adventure. My wife and I are kicking ourselves for staying home last weekend. We were on the fence about the 12-hour (round trip) drive and couldn't find reliable beta on snow levels. We decided to bail and ski closer to home. Wish we had taken a gamble on the drive. You guys nailed it! Excellent job at making us jealous. Andy
benners	Cincy 4/5/2013 5:30pm It's tough taking the plunge sometimes for sure, especially in March! San Juans are so far away and if you were to head down there and get weathered off or have to can the trip due to avy danger, it'd be a long drive home. We were very fortunate. I'm sure you guys will have several more opportunitues!
Easy Rider	Gorgeous day! 4/5/2013 10:46pm Nice to see you out there. It was fun watching you guys skiing. I wish I had a telephoto lens for that. BTW I like how you framed the reflection of the lamp on the dog in that poster.
Zambo	I'd Expect Nothing Less 4/8/2013 9:44pm Great work out there fellas. Awesome job getting after it and glad to hear the report back on a fine outing. And fear not Benners! With this storm dumping another foot and one more on its heels, your Spring season may be saved yet. Here's hoping you guys are able to hit your other targets down South this year.
snowymountainsrock	Nice Report! 4/9/2013 5:46pm I was wondering how steep on average was slate creek cirque? Thanks
benners	Good 4/9/2013 6:05pm to see you up there Jarret! Was a gorgeous day indeed. Thanks for putting in the booter up Sultan. Zambo - Yeah the new snow will definitely help. Can't wait to hear about your trip down south. Snowy - Overall the cirque is pretty tame (30 degrees or less) save for a headwall at the bottom (goes to maybe mid-thirties) and the very top section leading to the base of the summit block (low to mid-forties). We were able to skin to about 13,800' or so, then booted the final few hundred feet to the col south of the summit.
snowymountainsrock	Thanks 4/9/2013 6:59pm One more question. How many miles round trip was it (for Mt. Wilson) and what class is the rock to the summit?
benners	Distance and Difficulty 4/10/2013 2:43pm We didn't measure, but friends of mine who have skied this same route have called it 12 miles from the Cross Mountain TH. That feels about right to me. The rock scrambling from the col south of the summit to the true summit is class 3, no higher. The exposure doesn't feel that bad either; not in the same ball park as climbing the standard route from Navajo Basin. G'luck if you decide to head up there!

Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.

Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.

14ers.com

Social

Mobile App