Wilson snow conditions?
Forum rules
- This is a mountaineering forum, so please keep your posts on-topic. Posts do not all have to be related to the 14ers but should at least be mountaineering-related.
- Personal attacks and confrontational behavior will result in removal from the forum at the discretion of the administrators.
- Do not use this forum to advertise, sell photos or other products or promote a commercial website.
- Posts will be removed at the discretion of the site administrator or moderator(s), including: Troll posts, posts pushing political views or religious beliefs, and posts with the purpose of instigating conflict within the forum.
For more details, please see the Terms of Use you agreed to when joining the forum.
- denvermikey
- Posts: 530
- Joined: 8/9/2007
- 14ers: 51
- 13ers: 166
- Trip Reports (12)
Wilson snow conditions?
Was planning on climbing Wilson Peak Saturday. The forecast for Saturday couldn't be any better. Clear, sunny 0% chance of precip. My worry is how much snow did the area get? Looking at the route (from Silver Pick) in general, it looks like a majority of it has good sun exposure and has a chance of some decent melting in the next 2 days. Except for the final pitch to the top, however. Looks like that is mostly NNW facing? May not see much sun nor experience much melting. Assuming temps probably won't go much above freezing at 13k+ either.
I have climbed El Diente (from Kilpacker) and would not be comfortable doing that one with fresh snow.
How comparable is Wilson Peak to ED?
Any reasonable expectation of the snow melting by Sat?
Any beta or opinions appreciated, thanks!
-Mike
I have climbed El Diente (from Kilpacker) and would not be comfortable doing that one with fresh snow.
How comparable is Wilson Peak to ED?
Any reasonable expectation of the snow melting by Sat?
Any beta or opinions appreciated, thanks!
-Mike
"Every man dies, not every man really lives" - William Wallace
"Because it's there" - George Mallory
"In the end it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years" - Abraham Lincoln
"You only live once but if you do it right, once is enough" - Mae West
"Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world." - David McCullough Jr.
"Because it's there" - George Mallory
"In the end it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years" - Abraham Lincoln
"You only live once but if you do it right, once is enough" - Mae West
"Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world." - David McCullough Jr.
- nyker
- Posts: 3235
- Joined: 12/5/2007
- 14ers: 58
- 13ers: 25
- Trip Reports (69)
Re: Wilson snow conditions?
For Wilson Peak, I'd only worry about snow on the portion of the high route between the false summit and summit proper. That is where any exposure and main fall risk is. You might need some sort of ice/creeper traction. Crampons won't be much help in early season loose snow, but ice could be an issue there.
The rest of the route can be doable with snow, though could mean some route finding issues after the Gladstone-Wilson Peak saddle
if snow is more than 6" and drifting. There are some steep spots there where poles at least would help with fresh unconsolidated snow, especially right off that saddle if you descend down.
Compared with El Diente (both from Kilpacker), ED has more tricky rock for a more sustained period than does Wilson Peak.
See both my trip reports from last week on each peak that I just posted to get an idea of terrain.
The rest of the route can be doable with snow, though could mean some route finding issues after the Gladstone-Wilson Peak saddle
if snow is more than 6" and drifting. There are some steep spots there where poles at least would help with fresh unconsolidated snow, especially right off that saddle if you descend down.
Compared with El Diente (both from Kilpacker), ED has more tricky rock for a more sustained period than does Wilson Peak.
See both my trip reports from last week on each peak that I just posted to get an idea of terrain.
- Eaglevu
- Posts: 258
- Joined: 4/2/2007
- 14ers: 36 2
- 13ers: 73
- Trip Reports (3)
- Contact:
Re: Wilson snow conditions?
Mike -
I going to be there next week. I would be interested in knowing how things went.
I going to be there next week. I would be interested in knowing how things went.
-Eaglevu
(Member of the "EVEREST IS TOO D_MN HIGH!" party.)
(Member of the "EVEREST IS TOO D_MN HIGH!" party.)
- Neil
- Posts: 733
- Joined: 6/6/2006
- 14ers: 41
- 13ers: 25
- Trip Reports (2)
Re: Wilson snow conditions?
Below is a link to a webcam at the Dunton Hot Springs, which is south of Telluride. The camera looks north right at at El Diente and the Mount Wilson massif. The camera is up-to-date and shows absolutely no snow on El Diente, which should be indicative of Wilson Peak conditions.
http://www.duntonhotsprings.com/webcam.html
The link below is to a webcam looking south towards the Sneffels Range from Log Hill above Ridgway. It also evidences that very little snow fell -- and none is lingering -- in the western San Juans.
http://ridgwaycam.com/
Hope this helps.
http://www.duntonhotsprings.com/webcam.html
The link below is to a webcam looking south towards the Sneffels Range from Log Hill above Ridgway. It also evidences that very little snow fell -- and none is lingering -- in the western San Juans.
http://ridgwaycam.com/
Hope this helps.
"On the edge of the porch in the warm evening night
Throwing the bone for the dog I see two passing lights
Well, I wonder where that driver's bound
Is there someone, somewhere, someway out there that I've not found"
-Driving Song
Throwing the bone for the dog I see two passing lights
Well, I wonder where that driver's bound
Is there someone, somewhere, someway out there that I've not found"
-Driving Song
- gonzalj
- Posts: 945
- Joined: 12/24/2009
- 14ers: 40 1
- 13ers: 14
- Trip Reports (11)
- Contact:
Re: Wilson snow conditions?
I'm in Telluride right now and can tell you that the wilson's didn't get any snow. Complete summer time conditions.
- denvermikey
- Posts: 530
- Joined: 8/9/2007
- 14ers: 51
- 13ers: 166
- Trip Reports (12)
Re: Wilson snow conditions?
That's good to hear, but surprising I guess. That area must have really dodged the storm. Showed 70% chance of measurable snow over the last 36 hours or so.
"Every man dies, not every man really lives" - William Wallace
"Because it's there" - George Mallory
"In the end it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years" - Abraham Lincoln
"You only live once but if you do it right, once is enough" - Mae West
"Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world." - David McCullough Jr.
"Because it's there" - George Mallory
"In the end it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years" - Abraham Lincoln
"You only live once but if you do it right, once is enough" - Mae West
"Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world." - David McCullough Jr.
- lurker
- Posts: 141
- Joined: 9/5/2006
- 14ers: 51 5
- 13ers: 100
- Trip Reports (1)
Re: Wilson snow conditions?
Denvermikey,
Lurkers rarely advertise their intentions, but maybe we'll run into each other up there.
Rock of Ages TH?
lurker
Lurkers rarely advertise their intentions, but maybe we'll run into each other up there.
Rock of Ages TH?
lurker
The Mountains are Calling, and I must Go.
--John Muir
--John Muir
Re: Wilson snow conditions?
Lurker. Actually, Mikey and I are planning on climbing it on the 22nd, not this weekend. Assuming the weather holds out, I think we'll be good to go from Rock of Ages.
- ed20320
- Posts: 57
- Joined: 8/7/2011
- 14ers: 56 10
- 13ers: 10
- Trip Reports (1)
- Contact:
Re: Wilson snow conditions?
a buddy and i just came back from doing all three and as of yesterday (saturday 15 sept), there was no snow anywhere in Kilpacker and navaho basins or on the ROA trail. we had absolutely perfect conditions and a great climb. maybe by next weekend, all of the aspen trees will be turned and if so, you will have amazing views.
+1 for the ROA's trail.
Ed
+1 for the ROA's trail.
Ed
Defy Gravity
Re: Wilson snow conditions?
Summer conditions on Wilson Peak today.
- Rcizzle
- Posts: 122
- Joined: 6/10/2010
- 14ers: 58 7
- 13ers: 5
- Trip Reports (4)
Re: Wilson snow conditions?
Sticking snow and "winter" like conditions don't really occur until mid October. Last year snow began sticking on north faces of the San Juans around the first of October, but quickly melted in few days afterward only to return to winter again by the 9th. The year before snow didnt begin to stick in the San Juans until October 17th.
Bad decisions make good stories.
- Dan_Suitor
- Posts: 776
- Joined: 4/23/2012
- 14ers: 58 4
- 13ers: 90
- Trip Reports (3)
Re: Wilson snow conditions?
I climbed Wilson Peak today with Jorge. No snow at all. Here is a pic from the top and of the climb to the peak after the false summit:
Century Bound, eventually.