Wilson Peak

Route: Rock of Ages Approach
Posted On: 7/29/2024, By: mspin99
Info: Only 1 snow crossing left in the Basin, right after the mine ruins. No spikes necessary, but I will note that early in the AM, the ice is pretty bulletproof. Trekking poles were helpful for added stability. I used a squatting approach to keep balance. Falling and sliding would not be fun. On the way back, no concern as the snow will be soft.

Ridge to Peak was awesome, no snow -- just fun route-finding and climbing from ledges to crux. 

Route: Rock of Ages Approach
Posted On: 7/21/2024, By: RCBurnout11
Info: Only one small snowfield remains on the Rock of Ages approach. Completely dry and easy to follow otherwise.

The previous review is spot on about the marmots on the small saddle. I wouldn't stash anything here if it's an option.

It was a great climb, but there is some loose rock to watch out for after you hit Rock of Ages Saddle. The exposure wasn't as bad as I expected and climbing up the crux wasn't difficult. Route-finding was probably the most difficult part of the day for me. 

Route: Rock of Ages Approach
Posted On: 7/13/2024, By: shapovalovm
Info: Counted 3 snowfields, but did not bother using spikes (see photos) or poles as each is easily crossable in ~15 seconds in pretty much any footwear (I was wearing approach shoes).

Route-finding is pretty straightforward. The route is almost entirely class 1-2 other than maybe a small section past Wilson-Gladstone saddle and at the very end after false summit.

If you want to stash your stuff on the small saddle, be careful, there's fearless Marmot mafia there, tearing packs into pieces.

Did Wilson and Gladstone. The latter turned out to be way harder and way more fun.

5:10am start, 1:20 finish. Had to activate "f-off the mountain ASAP" protocol as the clouds were rolling in on the way back from Gladstone. 

Route: Rock of Ages Approach
Posted On: 7/11/2024, By: kansasgirlclimbs
Info: Previously reported snowfields are unchanged 

Route: Rock of Ages Approach
Posted On: 7/8/2024, By: gratefulliam
Info: Near full-on summertime conditions. Still some lingering snow that you'll have to cross on the way up to the saddle. Probably worth having microspikes at these areas just to be extra safe. No snow above/beyond the saddle. 

Route: Rock of Ages Approach
Posted On: 7/3/2024, By: toxqan
Info: There were about 6 snowfields to cross in total. 3 of those were lower down with a few covering the mining road. The other three were higher up toward ROA saddle and were fairly easy to cross. I brought an axe and found it useful although I also used trekking poles to cross a few as well. I found the first snowfield a mile from the trailhead the trickiest. Everything past the ROA saddle was dry 

Route: Rock of Ages Approach
Posted On: 6/24/2024, By: Floydgatsby
Info: Still snow on trail, mainly along the final couple hundred feet to the Rock of Ages pass. If you start early, make sure you have traction + poles and an ice axe since some areas are pretty steep. Above the pass most snow/ice is avoidable or low risk. After the false summit the route is ice free. Lots of fun glissading down from the pass. 

Route: Rock of Ages Approach
Posted On: 6/17/2024, By: JakeBortClimb
Info: Mostly dry, apart from the basin approach. Crampons or other good traction are needed to climb up to the Rock of ages saddle. Snow is avoidable from there, apart from small and insignificant crossings. Ice axe makes for a nice glissade down to the bottom on the way backsummer conditions for 90%. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 1/4/2024, By: CameronMothersead
Info: Approached from the cross mountain trailhead. Snow is super packed down for about 3 miles and then we broke our own trail from there. Super powdery snow the whole rest of the way except for a few firm slabs here and there. We deviated from the normal trail a bit to get up to the ridge, just kind of picked a couloir and went up but it wasnt too hard. Ridge itself had just enough snow to make it interesting and there is lots of loose rock. 

Route: Rock of Ages Approach
Posted On: 10/23/2023, By: Riverxyz11
Info: Crampons needed before the saddle and after fall summit. We made some tracks on the traverse from fall summit to the true summit so should be easier to cross. The final pitch is pretty dry summer conditions. So basically the traverse is the most difficult part of the hike.
But its pretty short although very exposed and with some snow It got my attention. Route finding is not too hard at all.
We started at 7am and summited by 1:30 but we were very exhausted from hiking El Diente Traverse to Mount Wilson the day before. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/4/2023, By: Jonathan Deffenbaugh
Info: Was dry all the way to the false summit. Still need traction from the traverse to the true summit as there was snow and an ice patch mixed in as well. Helmet recommended as well for safety. Plan accordingly. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/26/2023, By: skik2000
Info: The only part of the route with snow on it was the bottom half of the down climb from the false summit and the short traverse over to where you start up the final summit block. I appreciated the micro spikes as a slip above that couloir wouldnt end well. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/19/2023, By: neilkozak
Info: I climbed Wilson Peak on Sunday, 9/17 via Rock of Ages and the standard southwest ridge. The trail itself was mostly snow free until the climb up the false summit and crux. I was on Handies yesterday and it looked like that area was getting blasted, so I would expect even more snow now. 

Route: Navajo Lake Approach
Posted On: 9/10/2023, By: rsuminsby
Info: A head's up for those heading to the Rock of Ages saddle from the south (Navajo lake approach). If you're not paying attention (clearly I wasn't), it's easy to walk right by the turnoff to RoA, as the trail is a bit faint, whereas the trail that continues towards Mt Wilson is like a yellow brick road. There is a signpost at the turnoff, but the sign (sitting on the ground) says "Closed for Restoration", not "Turn Left here for Wilson Peak" 

Route: Rock of Ages Approach
Posted On: 8/27/2023, By: swilson753
Info: I climbed Gladstone, not Wilson.

As other reports have said, the RoA approach is in summer conditions. There's one 50 ft snow field to cross in Silver Pick Basin. It was a little slippery at 5 am after a bunch of rain the day before, but I was able to kick steps in hiking boots without any issue. I had more trouble with a couple spots up high in the basin (around 12.7k and 12.9k) where the trail to the Rock of Ages saddle appears to have washed out. It made for sketchy route finding in the dark. On my way down, I heard spontaneous rockfall above me as I crossed the washed out gullies. I'm glad I left my helmet on until after I finished crossing the second gully.