Wilson Peak

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/24/2023, By: tjvanfossen
Info: From Navajo Lake, a few sloped snow crossings along the trail where we needed traction in the early am, but our afternoon steps were sufficient to boot it the next morning still. But traction definitely required beyond the Mt Wilson "trail" split, with continuous snow to the saddle. Then it's a mixture of loose rock and sloped snow after that. Dropping down from the false summit and getting over to the gash is a challenge given the current conditions. Pick your poison-exposed climbing on loose rock or crampons on rock, loose and steep snow, and ice. Axe and crampons highly recommended. Snowshoes not needed. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/19/2023, By: amitchell
Info: Props to the atv homie who chopped up the trees, we may all reach the upper trailhead for the best chances at getting the 3 in 1! Also this route was tough. The face traverse was the 2nd chossiest mountain I ever touched, the snow postholed from the start since it was so warm, and the final pitch comes off as more of a puzzle than an easy class 3 climb. Looks easy on paper, turns out to be very mentally challenging day! Also, the snow in the eldiente basin is still super full. So now that the road is opened further, you don't have to carry the skis as far, and can get a full couloir day in on eldiente with the least difficulty possible. 

Route: Rock of Ages Approach
Posted On: 6/11/2023, By: davidcoats
Info: The road to the Rock of Ages trailhead is blocked by several downed trees about 1.5 miles out. The approach itself is still covered with snow in many parts. Snowshoes were helpful for the longer stretches. Silver Pick Basin is still covered in steep, slippery snow. I was glad to have my ice axe, but definitely needed crampons, which I did not bring. Next time. I made it to just above the mining camp ruins and saw that the trail to the ridge was covered in more steep snow and decided to call it a day. On the descent I found a single snowshoe. If it is yours, send me a message with a description of it and I will mail it to you. 

Route: Up NW, Coors Face Ski
Posted On: 5/1/2023, By: slawrence2011
Info: I summited Wilson peak Saturday and Sunday from Rock of Ages. I skied the Coors face Saturday and the Northwest face Sunday. About 5 other people skied the Coors face both days, and a few others skied the NW face Saturday. Road was snowed over around last property around 9,1K, but melting fast. Skinned from the car both days, but had to take skis off for the last couple hundred yards Sunday. I have to say, now that I know what I know, please take the rock of ages trail versus the private road up to the mine, because it seems access is at risk here with recent events and private property so close, would hate to loose this. I put a skin track in that route Saturday. That route is fully covered, a bit of annoying side hilling where the road wraps around to join the upper basin. Many people skinned all the way to the ridge of the NW face, most summitted that way, a few, including myself used the hidden W facing couloir Dawson described. There are two mixed climbing cruxes in there currently, but mostly good coverage, and I successfully downclimbed it as well Sunday. Conditions were powder in the NW face Saturday, and we dug a couple snow pits and got it to release around 8 inches in isolated places of wind slab, but mostly 2 inches or less. On Sunday, the heat of Saturday and refreeze Saturday night resulted in consolidated firm snow, but not sure the freeze went all the way through, because skiing it on Sunday around 1 was a breakable crust of less than an inch, then sinking slightly under that. Others tell me skiing it Saturday was powder conditions. I dropped into Coors face around 2, which I thought would be way too late given last season when I dropped in at 10:20, it was like an hour too late. I only did it because 5 people did right in front of me, and it actually didn't sluff that bad, probably because it was more of a winter snowpack that took longer to warm, and the high was only 36. Mix between scraped off powder, some bulletproof shade sections, and slushier snow down low. The Coors face was in better than last year around this time, but it is still a harrowing entry via the ramp, everyone I saw and talked to, including me, side stepped the 500 feet entry due to many hidden rocks, down through the choke, where there was a challenging (for me) downclimb over a 3 foot exposed rock. I do remember the move last season though, and I think it is easier this season, because I remember way less snow, and being balanced on ski tip and tail, which was horrifying. Even when in the central couloir, lots of rocks, had to side step many times. The way the tracks are going now, people start to traverse out skiers left, but go down the lower chute one left of standard, then traverse back to the standard lower chute, which goes. It looks like you may be able to just go in fall line, but not tested as of end of Saturday. Also, I remember you can go way skiers left and it becomes cruiser, though someone said there is debris there now. I think if that is the best Coors face gets and there is no hope of skiing on the upper, surviving twice is good enough for me, but let me know if the upper ever becomes skiable. I think if East Face of Castle is D12, this must be around D14 or D15, since so much is unskiable and all of Castle you can at least do jump turns, but I have now other context for anything this difficult. Curious how it would compare to Crestone Needle or Little Bear, but all condition dependent I'm sure. 

Route: Rock of Ages Approach
Posted On: 2/21/2023, By: Skimo95
Info: Took the ridge direct yesterday and dealt with a broken binding on the way down. Storm will change things 12.4mi 4,900' from winter closure 

Route: Rock of Ages Approach
Posted On: 10/23/2022, By: Mheef
Info: Rock of Ages is in very good condition until you hit the snow line which was about 3.5 miles in. Then crampons become required and trail is hard to follow. We made it to 12,800ft before encroaching weather and current snow conditions helped us to decide to turn around. Winds were sustained 30-40 mph with gusts of 70 mph+. Temperature was in the 20s but windchill estimated it feels around 3 degrees F Summit is still doable until the next snow (which is in about 2 hours). Then serious alpine gear and skill required. Avalanche conditions were prime which resulted in us turning around. But good luck. Drink a Coors on Me 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/14/2022, By: ericd01
Info: Silver Pick is currently a 2WD accessible road to TH. ROA trail is 4 miles of dryness with a high path to the saddle avoiding endless talus and considerable less switchbacks. Peak trail is counterintuitive to not stay high on ridge but to traverse lower. Overall quicker than expected with an average 4hr ascent, 2.5hr descent. The gash crux to summit is super fun and in the afternoon shade. Bring a Coors Light! 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/6/2022, By: swesleyc7
Info: Climbed via Navajo Lake approach. The trail from Navajo Lake to the initial saddle is excellent - CFI has been doing a great job improving the area. The climb to the summit from the saddle is excellent with moderate C3 climbing - no rockfall or loose debris should get in your way. The peak is experiencing summer-like conditions. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/6/2022, By: E_A_Marcus_949
Info: Via Rock of Ages - free and clear to summit. Super fun and busy day. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/21/2022, By: bsiegs
Info: Full summer conditions apart from one minor snowfield to cross (~30 ft long) along rock of ages trail. Fairly solid rock post false summit. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/18/2022, By: Istoodupthere
Info: Perfect morning on Wilson. On the traverse to the false summit, the first couple hundred yards it's tough to find the best route. Maybe a couple class 3 moves involved. The rest of the traverse is pretty easy. The ascent from the false summit wasn't bad at all and actually fun. Having someone there to help figure out the correct route made things much easier though. Thx Chris! Having copies of the pics from Bill's report are immensely helpful. Dark clouds started forming over the summit around 11:15. Didn't seem to amount to much though. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/14/2022, By: jwagz13
Info: Using photos from previous posts with purple arrows (sorry not sure who posted), route finding pretty easy- at least for me. via Rock of ages once on "second saddle (post Rock of Ages) stayed a little low (but not all the way down) and was able to find route to false summit. As prev mentioned couple very minor snow patches (nothing needed). Clear day, clear summit. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/9/2022, By: bosnian2014
Info: Full ummer conditions in the class 3 section. A couple of minor snow crossings on switchbacks. We did not use traction at all. We found route finding to keep after false summit to be somewhat challenging with cairns hard to locate. Pictures from Bill's route description were very helpful. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/8/2022, By: jmfb3
Info: It was very wet, some snow was present in the very exposed sections. I'd recommend traction. I did not have any and still made it, but felt pretty insecure and wished I had some traction for the majority of the class 3 sections. Everything before the class 3 section was fine. The road up and mining road / navajo basin trail were all clear of snow. 

Route: Woods Lake Approach
Posted On: 7/2/2022, By: Peakr33_
Info: Woods Lake Trail was very easy to get to with a 2wd vehicle, and the trail itself was a nice, steady uphill. Just before you pass by Elk Creek Trail, tree line seems to start and the views are great. There are small forests around Navajo Lake to camp out in, great for keeping you from any windy conditions. Navajo Lake Trail is getting some maintenance and a diversion trail for restoration on the talus section beyond the peaceful lake, but the large cairns guide you true. Wilson Peak's climb had zero snow, and the recommended route was clear except for around the climber's right face of the false summit. You can make the climb as sketchy and hard as you like - and there's ample opportunity for that - but it seems if you stay on the regular beta the route is only slightly exposed and does a bit more occasional descending to climb. The peak has a small rock wall some people made for wind protection, the view from the top is great as expected.