Wilson Peak fatality

[OBC13]

I haven't seen a lot of articles on this but there was one that said he fell into Bilk Basin while ascending the Rock of Ages Trail. So that almost has to have been after leaving the Gladstone saddle and heading up the 3rd class side slope that is being discussed in regard to a preferred route. It is definitely possible to fall 400 feet (or even more) in either Bilk or Navajo Basin.

[madmattd]

A couple of us did Wilson Peak yesterday.

Roach mentions the option to drop below the ledges - you have to drop a good 100+ feet. It is very loose getting down there.

On the way up we dropped down below most of the ledges, but not entirely and it was a bit tedious. Coming back we stayed higher/level and it wasn't too bad, but it is steep, sloped, and attention-getting. No perfect answer in here, but there are multiple options you can negotiate your way through. I would generally suggest to either commit to staying level/slightly ascending, or commit to dropping low below the ledges.

Agreed with the general sentiment that the summit pitch is overall less grabbing than the ledges - steep, but solid foot and hand holds, and it goes quick.

[terrysrunning]

I have done it 3 times and don’t remember those ledges being anything but a fun choose-your-own-adventure section. It’s the maze through the loose junk after that that’s annoying to me, though not dangerous. The only place that ever seemed scary is the downclimb after the false summit if there’s snow (I’ve seen probably 6-10 people turn back there).
When I read this report it seemed odd to me as I never noticed anything that seemed dangerous on the Rock of Ages trail, although to be fair I never took it down into Navajo Basin. The rote to the summit after the saddle isn’t actually on the ROA trail unless I’m misunderstanding the maps. Maybe people are referring to it as that trail because the route starts on the trail? But that’s a lot of speculation.
I don’t think the standard route should be below those ledges though. Most of the people I’ve seen have no problem navigating them, and if you’re on the trail below, the danger seems to me that you’d be BELOW all the people on the ledges, and getting a rock kicked on your head might be worse than doing a little white-knuckling(for some) staying up high. Just my 2c. I wouldn’t want to be down there.
Some verbiage letting people know it’s an option might not hurt. But I think the route is fine as it is.