OverviewMount Wilson is one of a group of three 14ers in the compact San Miguel Range of the San Juan National Forest near Telluride- Mount Wilson, Wilson Peak, and El Diente. It is also the highest peak in Dolores County. These challenging peaks with many trailhead and access points providing a rich variety of approaches and routes. As Gerry Roach puts it, in his book "Colorado's Fourteeners-From Hikes to Climbs", "Mount Wilson remains a reclusive test piece for mountaineers". The easiest route for Mount Wilson is from either the Silver Pick Trailhead or the Navajo Lake Trailhead. Being a 14er it's popular with peak baggers especially in the summer, and especially on weekends. No matter which route you choose, the crux of the hike is a Class 4 move on the final ridge, immediately below the summit.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: On July 20, 2004 Aaron Johnson advised: The Silver Pick Basin access is closed. Until further notice, climbing Mount Wilson should be executed from Kilpacker Creek, Navajo Lake, Bilk Basin, the ridge traverse or another approach. Click the link below for more info. Route Closure The current situation is quite up in the air, so I also suggest seeing the threads pertaining to Wilson in the Rockies section of the summitpost bulletin boards.
Be sure to check out the link that Aaron Johnson uploaded to this page. It is a trip report on the climb of Mount Wilson by Theron Welch, a former Colorado resident (now in Washington-which ain't bad!). The report is well written, thorough and the pics are outstanding.
Wilson Group Report
Getting ThereSilver Pick Basin access: Drive 6.5 miles southeast from Placerville on Hwy 145. Turn right (south) on Silver Pick Road (FSR-622). Go left at mile 3.2 and take the middle fork at mile 4, then continue on FS-622 to the locked gate. Small parking area here.
Navajo Basin access: Start on FSR-535 which is 6 miles south of Lizard Head Pass on Hwy 145, identified by a large sign at the junction as Dunton. Follow the dirt road west 7 miles where a side road forks sharply to the right as FSR-535, which descends into the narrow gorge of West Dolores River. This short side road leads to the Navajo Lake Trailhead, where there is ample parking.
Trip ReportsA very helpful trip report is currently available on the net. I think this one gives a good flavor for the mountain: Mount Wilson Trip Report Here's another good one:Wilson Group Report . Lastly, one new Trip Report has been added to the Trip Report tab on this site.
Also see Gladstone Peak
When To ClimbBest in summer and fall. Access roads not plowed in the winter. Try to get an early start and be off the summit by early afternoon as Colorado is famous for afternoon storms.
CampingSilver Pick Basin access: several places to camp at the locked gate. No fees involved.
Navajo Lake access: Backpack in to Navajo Lake where there are several camping areas. No fees involved.
Mountain ConditionsNo web-cams or phone numbers to call that I know of. There is much loose rock on this mountain and extra caution should be used to avoid dangerous slips and falls. There is also a large permanent snowfield, sometimes referred to as the "Navajo Glacier". While it's not necessary to get on the glacier, snow persists through the summer on Mt Wilson's north side so an ice ax is highly recommended. Sadly, a climber recently slipped and fell down a snowfield to his death.
Conditions on this mountain, like all Colorado 14ers, are subject to change rapidly- especially during the prime climbing summer season. The mountains are their own weather system, and weather forecasts from nearby towns often have little to do with actual mountain conditions. You can generally count on clear to partly cloudy in the morning, and heavy clouds and thunderstorms in the afternoon during the summer.
There is no substitute for getting an early start, and getting as much of the mountain "behind you" as early in the day as possible. Keep a good eye on the sky as weather conditions can deteriorate rapidly. The greatest weather danger is from lightning strikes, and climbers are killed almost every summer in Colorado by lightning strikes. July seems to be the most deadly month for lightning.
Two climbers were killed by lightning in Colorado within a couple days of each other in the summer of 2003. I think the following important information from Gerry Roach's book "Colorado's Fourteeners From Hikes to Climbs" bears repeating. Added here with permission from Gerry Roach:
Colorado is famous for apocalyptic lightning storms that threaten not just your life, but your soul as well. This section will have special meaning if you have ever been trapped by a storm that endures for more than an hour and leaves no gap between one peal of thunder and the next. The term simultaneous flash-boom has a very personal meaning for many Colorado Climbers
Dangers
1. Lightning is dangerous!
2. Lightning is the greatest external hazard to summer mountaineering in Colorado.
3. Lightning kills people every year in Colorado's mountains.
4. Direct hits are usually fatal.
Precautions
1. Start early! Be off summits by noon and back in the valley by early afternoon.
2. Observe thunderhead buildup carefully, noting speed and direction; towering thunderheads with black bottoms are bad.
3. When lightning begins nearby, count the seconds between flash and thunder, then divide by 5 to calculate the distance to the flash in miles. Repeat to determine if lightning is approaching.
4. Try to determine if the lightning activity is cloud-to-cloud or ground strikes.
5. Get off summits and ridges.
Protection
1. You cannot outrun a storm; physics wins.
2. When caught, seek a safe zone in the 45-degree cone around an object 5 to 10 times your height.
3. Be aware of ground currents; the current from a ground strike disperses along the ground or cliff, especially in wet cracks.
4. Wet ropes are good conductors.
5. Snow is not a good conductor.
6. Separate yourself from metal objects.
7. Avoid sheltering in spark gaps under boulders and trees.
8. Disperse the group. Survivors can revive one who is hit.
9. Crouch on boot soles, ideally on dry, insulating material such as moss or grass. Dirt is better than rock. Avoid water.
The following link is also helpful: Lightning Safety and Crouch
Also see this report by nchenkin It will make you really think about lightning safety: Struck By Lightning!
People Pics and Miscellaneous InfoAdd your People Pics and any other miscellaneous information here.
External Links Images
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San Juan Range
