Mt Wilson and Wilson Pk

I summited Mt Wilson and Wilson Pk near Telluride CO over the weekend. I had done both previously a decade ago. With me were my wife Beckie, who now only lacks Mt of the Holy Cross to complete Colorado's county highpoints, Jobe Wymore of SLC UT, Mark Hansen of Ogden UT, and my neighbors Dave & Susan Pellagrini.

Weather turned poor Friday eve on the hike in over Silver Pick Basin to Navajo Basin, and we could feel the effects of lightning from 1/2 to 1 mile away on the peaks. We set up camp at dusk, and summited Mt Wilson Saturday AM. This is one of the 3-4 toughest CO 14ers, due to a short Class 4 stretch just below the summit. One crosses a knife edge fin with ~1,000' down to the right, and a hundred feet of dirt covered ledges down to the left. It rained all Saturday afternoon, drenching our camp.

Sunday was good weather, and we packed up to the saddle, dropped packs, and climbed Wilson Peak. It does not have the exposure problems, but does have continuous Class 3 climbing for the last 200' of vertical. Good holds everywhere, no loose rock at all.

There was almost no snow anywhere. All patches except Navajo Glacier should be melted by early August. The glacier itself is almost covered with falling rock debris from Gladstone and Wilson. No ice axes are necessary. We were kept awake all Friday night and much of Saturday eve by rockslides, which fortunately stopped across the valley, but were very alarming.

Mt Wilson was Dave P's 1st 14er, truly an amazing feat to pick this mountain as his first significant climb, well past age 50.

They both were good prep climbs for Granite Pk in MT, which we will attempt in 2 weeks with a great group of Highpointer friends.

We may try Holy Cross next weekend.

Other Information

• What to Bring on a Hike
• Safety And Survival
• There's Weather Out There
• Learning Safety Through the Experience of Others
• The Leave No Trace: Skills & Ethics: Rocky Mountains A must read for every backcountry user!