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Peak(s):  El Diente Peak  -  14,175 feet
Mt. Wilson  -  14,256 feet
Wilson Peak  -  14,021 feet
Date Posted:  08/23/2013
Modified:  08/25/2013
Date Climbed:   08/18/2013
Author:  djkest
Additional Members:   Chaos Penumbra
 Combo Breaker- the Wilson Group   

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I"
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost



Woods Lake Approach
El Diente North Buttress from Navaho Basin
El Diente to Mt. Wilson high traverse
Wilson Peak Southwest Slopes from Navaho Lake

~22.75 miles and 9,500' of elevation gain

Please click on my blog posts for full photos that can be expanded and clicked through to your liking. I don't make a cent off my blog, but I do spend hours on these posts.

Day 1 Woods Lake Approach
Day 2- El Diente and Mt. Wilson
Day 3- Wilson Peak


Here is a map showing the Woods Lake TH vs. the Navaho Lake TH. Truth be told, the Woods lake TH is about 45 minutes less driving in each direction, and at most 15 minutes extra hiking. It also offers some great views along the way.
Image

Woods lake is a seldom-used approach to the Wilson Group. The user reported route is excellent and provides plenty of information to entice readers into trying this alternative. We didn't find much evidence that it is used much, but it should probably be considered for any trip you might be making in the area.

5 reasons to take the Woods Lake approach:
1) It's closer to Ridgway than any other approach
2) The road can be driven in any vehicle, including Harleys or Corvettes
3) You likely will see 0 other hikers on this approach
4) The views of El Diente from the pass are sublime
5) The pass is at least 1,200' lower than Rock of Ages saddle.


And then also there is this:


We'd been trying to make this trip for a long time. I had been sick for nearly a month, squeezing in Little Bear between courses of prescription antibiotics. I was hoping to tackled the Wilson group in peak physical condition, but that was going to be impossible. There are only so many days in summer, and our fall calendars were already filling up. So away we went, hoping for a nice weather window.


And here are 5 reasons to take the North Buttress Route on El Diente:
1) The rock is generally solid if you stick to the buttress
2) Minimal time spent on small rocks and dirt slides
3) The views of the valley below are grand
4) The route dumps you off very close to the summit
5) You don't have to travel on any part of the traverse to reach the summit


And there is also this:



(photo by SZL)

This wasn't an "easy" trip. Minor injury aside, my panic attack on the narrow fin revealed a weakness, a chink in my armor. My psyche was wounded, and I'm not sure how extensive the damage is. We were able to complete the goals, so perhaps it's a minor thing. Also, the rock is LOOSE! I would say that the Maroon Bells have nothing on the Wilson group. And the loose rock is surely trecherous. Trusting any rock less than 1,000 lbs is a risky affair. There were more than a few times that I was shocked at the instability of the rocks, tumbling and sliding at the lightest touch.

El Diente has a small and airy summit, Mt. Wilson has a serious summit pitch and loose shoulders, and Wilson Peak has a thrilling and exposed finish. All of these summits should be considered carefully, for it is not often that the mountains grant you a second chance.

The San Juans are still awesome, it's no wonder that it's an adventure every time we drive out there. Too bad we don't live closer!



Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
1


Comments or Questions
nyker
User
Good job
8/23/2013 6:55pm
Despite the obstacles. To your point of injury, I find in athletics, we are often less than 100% when we have to perform! Yea, the Wilsons are loose...


ThuChad
User
Weather?
8/23/2013 8:08pm
How was the weather? It looked pretty rainy from Rico and Telluride on Sunday the 18th. Was that your first or last day of hiking? I couldn't tell from the blog.


djkest
User
Weather
8/23/2013 8:19pm
Friday the 17th- Clear in the afternoon
Sunday the 18th- rapidly building thunderstorms by 11 AM, sporadic rainshowers. Cleared in the evening, but rained again overnight at higher elevations. We started before 5 AM, and still ran into weather issues.
Monday the 19th- Clear in the morning, with afternoon T-storms building around 1PM.

I'll see if I can't clarify in my blog posts. Thanks for reading!


WarDamnPanic
User
Nice report
8/25/2013 2:58pm
Outstanding photos and nice job on the traverse. Looks tough, we still haven't decided if we are going to do the traverse or ”hybrid” traverse in 2 weeks.


djkest
User
Traverse
8/25/2013 3:41pm
The last section (class 4 climb + narrows) is probably the toughest part, I think it would be faster and easier to bypass it below. You might have to gain/lose 200 feet or so but if I had to do it again I probably would just do that.


rajz06
User
Surreal
8/26/2013 2:54am
pictures. Nicely done!



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