1st year it snowed, only got Wilson Peak. 2nd year it snowed so canceled the trip. 3rd year decided to go in July instead of September, did the El Diente to Wilson traverse, great fun and success! Access from Navajo Basin/trailhead with backpack.
Soloed as a day trip from Navajo TH. West Ridge to El Diente and then continued the Traverse to Mt. Wilson.
Stayed mostly true on the West Ridge and thought it was at least as hard and exposed as the Traverse itself (although did not stay nearly as true on the Traverse).
11.5 hrs incl. time on summits, taking pics, and talking to people (but ran part way back)
Fletch - May 27, 2013 9:53 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2013
500 ft short
Snow conditions were bad up top so we bailed... Great day though... I'll go back for the traverse later... Incredible area...
milan - Oct 21, 2012 5:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2012
From Kilpacker
This is a nice alternative route, much easier than the standard. It was raining all weekend but I got a 2 hours window that I was able to use to summit.
miztflip - Aug 28, 2012 10:05 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2012
Final 14er
My final 14er. Bittersweet as I had planned to traverse from El Diente. Woke up early in Navajo Basin to overcast skies and a drizzle. Opted for the standard route to finish up.
We just beat the weather to the peak. After descending less then 1000' we heard thunder and the rain followed soon after. I thought the climb from the top of the dirty gully to the summit was no harder then third class. That said, the rotten, dirty rock makes for scary climbing.
Alex Wood - Jun 29, 2012 3:45 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2012
Awesome Summit
Left Navajo Lake at 6am knowing that there was a 30% chance of tstorms. Got to the top of El Diente via the godawful North Slope Route at 9:20am. Part of our group was having issues with exposure so we left the summit of El Diente at 10:00am and half our group decided to go down. We continued across the ridge and got to the saddle in 40 mins. A storm rolled in and we watched and heard the lighting from the ridge over Navajo Basin. It cleared up so we kept going. Went off route in the crux section and ended up climbing some scary 5th class choss. We summited Mt. Wilson at 11:30am and then went down the regular route back to lake. All in all, it took 8 hours roundtrip. The summit ridge to Mt. Wilson is spectacular and the coolest summit ridge I have ever done. One of my top five summits for sure
Diggler - Jun 28, 2012 6:05 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2012
Proud peak
via Navajo Basin. Pretty exhausted still from outing on El Diente the day before, but went for it anyway. Route description given here pretty much spot on. Fun, especially last ~50'. Spectacular views (wildfires obvious, though). Back @ camp @ lake shortly after 18.00- enough time to break down camp & backpack out. Magnificent peak & great day! Glad Faith enjoyed it too.
Josh Lewis - Jun 22, 2012 1:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2012
Booyah!
We did the El Diente/Wilson traverse which was a lot of fun. I admit I'm not used to the Colorado altitude so I was definitely tired by the end of the day.
larch32 - Jun 22, 2012 2:07 am Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2012
Wicked.
Fun first 14er for me and a hitchhiker from Colombia.
LadyWawa - Nov 24, 2011 9:05 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2011
Challenging!
Very intense!
Ken Dammen - Nov 5, 2011 7:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2011
Mount Wilson El Diente Traverse
Climbed this after summit of El Diente. Difficult traverse and downclimb. Epic Day.
xpda - Oct 29, 2011 12:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2003
Wilson
With Mike Green
apachedino - Oct 28, 2011 12:18 am Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2011
Woods lake + El Diente
Exhilerating finish to the traverse. Rock of Ages TH was closed at this time, but may be open now. Had a long day from Woods.
Ted Eliason - Oct 13, 2011 4:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2008
Well Cairned
Easy after just completing the North Ridge on Kit Carson. Bagged on the traverse to El Diente due to weather.
Jeremy Hakes - Oct 4, 2011 11:00 am Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2005
Fantastic
My last 14er in Colorado.
theREALCarpeDM - Jul 28, 2011 12:27 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2011
Dayhike from Navajo TH
We noticed that Roach added the Rock of Ages trailhead/approach in the 3rd edition. Tried to get there - the road was gated. Given deteriorating forecasts and our schedules, we decided our best option was to dayhike from the Navajo Basin TH. Started at 2:15am. I felt great and was moving fast, but ran into route-finding issues and summitted at 11am. We were hurried off the summit by gathering weather. Got into rain and hail on the way down. Feel fortunate to have squeezed it into a narrow window.
up and down a couple times from the saddle to peak. fun summit. via the traverse, ecommended; tr here http://zoomloco.xanga.com/732717261/purple-mountain-majesties/
SarahThompson - Feb 16, 2011 11:36 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
Summer & Winter
8/27/06 - From camp in Navajo Basin. Traversed from El Diente and descended the standard route.
2/12/11 - Backpacked from Dunton into Kilpacker Basin. Climbed the southwest couloir with a variation near the top to avoid the standard 4th class finish. Lots of fresh snow in the couloir so we roped up and placed pro in the surrounding rock to try to protect against a possible avalanche. Awesome climb!
Liba Kopeckova - Jul 27, 2013 9:56 pm
nice scrambleFrom Silver Pick, did West Buttress on El Diente, then the traverse to Mount Wilson, scary clouds. Fun on the ridge...
rockymountaindiva - Jul 26, 2013 3:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2012
3rd try is a charm1st year it snowed, only got Wilson Peak. 2nd year it snowed so canceled the trip. 3rd year decided to go in July instead of September, did the El Diente to Wilson traverse, great fun and success! Access from Navajo Basin/trailhead with backpack.
blueshade - Jul 2, 2013 11:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2013
Traverse from Navajo THSoloed as a day trip from Navajo TH. West Ridge to El Diente and then continued the Traverse to Mt. Wilson.
Stayed mostly true on the West Ridge and thought it was at least as hard and exposed as the Traverse itself (although did not stay nearly as true on the Traverse).
11.5 hrs incl. time on summits, taking pics, and talking to people (but ran part way back)
Fletch - May 27, 2013 9:53 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2013
500 ft shortSnow conditions were bad up top so we bailed... Great day though... I'll go back for the traverse later... Incredible area...
milan - Oct 21, 2012 5:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2012
From KilpackerThis is a nice alternative route, much easier than the standard. It was raining all weekend but I got a 2 hours window that I was able to use to summit.
miztflip - Aug 28, 2012 10:05 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2012
Final 14erMy final 14er. Bittersweet as I had planned to traverse from El Diente. Woke up early in Navajo Basin to overcast skies and a drizzle. Opted for the standard route to finish up.
Hyadventure - Jul 10, 2012 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2012
Via the Traverse from El DienteWe just beat the weather to the peak. After descending less then 1000' we heard thunder and the rain followed soon after. I thought the climb from the top of the dirty gully to the summit was no harder then third class. That said, the rotten, dirty rock makes for scary climbing.
Alex Wood - Jun 29, 2012 3:45 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2012
Awesome SummitLeft Navajo Lake at 6am knowing that there was a 30% chance of tstorms. Got to the top of El Diente via the godawful North Slope Route at 9:20am. Part of our group was having issues with exposure so we left the summit of El Diente at 10:00am and half our group decided to go down. We continued across the ridge and got to the saddle in 40 mins. A storm rolled in and we watched and heard the lighting from the ridge over Navajo Basin. It cleared up so we kept going. Went off route in the crux section and ended up climbing some scary 5th class choss. We summited Mt. Wilson at 11:30am and then went down the regular route back to lake. All in all, it took 8 hours roundtrip. The summit ridge to Mt. Wilson is spectacular and the coolest summit ridge I have ever done. One of my top five summits for sure
Diggler - Jun 28, 2012 6:05 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2012
Proud peakvia Navajo Basin. Pretty exhausted still from outing on El Diente the day before, but went for it anyway. Route description given here pretty much spot on. Fun, especially last ~50'. Spectacular views (wildfires obvious, though). Back @ camp @ lake shortly after 18.00- enough time to break down camp & backpack out. Magnificent peak & great day! Glad Faith enjoyed it too.
Josh Lewis - Jun 22, 2012 1:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2012
Booyah!We did the El Diente/Wilson traverse which was a lot of fun. I admit I'm not used to the Colorado altitude so I was definitely tired by the end of the day.
larch32 - Jun 22, 2012 2:07 am Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2012
Wicked.Fun first 14er for me and a hitchhiker from Colombia.
LadyWawa - Nov 24, 2011 9:05 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2011
Challenging!Very intense!
Ken Dammen - Nov 5, 2011 7:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2011
Mount Wilson El Diente TraverseClimbed this after summit of El Diente. Difficult traverse and downclimb. Epic Day.
xpda - Oct 29, 2011 12:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2003
WilsonWith Mike Green
apachedino - Oct 28, 2011 12:18 am Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2011
Woods lake + El DienteExhilerating finish to the traverse. Rock of Ages TH was closed at this time, but may be open now. Had a long day from Woods.
Ted Eliason - Oct 13, 2011 4:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2008
Well CairnedEasy after just completing the North Ridge on Kit Carson. Bagged on the traverse to El Diente due to weather.
Jeremy Hakes - Oct 4, 2011 11:00 am Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2005
FantasticMy last 14er in Colorado.
theREALCarpeDM - Jul 28, 2011 12:27 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2011
Dayhike from Navajo THWe noticed that Roach added the Rock of Ages trailhead/approach in the 3rd edition. Tried to get there - the road was gated. Given deteriorating forecasts and our schedules, we decided our best option was to dayhike from the Navajo Basin TH. Started at 2:15am. I felt great and was moving fast, but ran into route-finding issues and summitted at 11am. We were hurried off the summit by gathering weather. Got into rain and hail on the way down. Feel fortunate to have squeezed it into a narrow window.
zoomloco - Jul 16, 2011 4:53 pm
traverseup and down a couple times from the saddle to peak. fun summit. via the traverse, ecommended; tr here http://zoomloco.xanga.com/732717261/purple-mountain-majesties/
SarahThompson - Feb 16, 2011 11:36 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
Summer & Winter8/27/06 - From camp in Navajo Basin. Traversed from El Diente and descended the standard route.
2/12/11 - Backpacked from Dunton into Kilpacker Basin. Climbed the southwest couloir with a variation near the top to avoid the standard 4th class finish. Lots of fresh snow in the couloir so we roped up and placed pro in the surrounding rock to try to protect against a possible avalanche. Awesome climb!