Mt Wilson ~ 14,246'
El Diente Peak ~ 14,159'
Wilson Peak ~ 14,017'
Elevation Gain ~ 7,400
Mileage ~ 13
Miles Venzara (Pine Needle Mountaineering) and Greg Lewis (Mt Bike/CycloCross haunch) invited me along on their second attempt of the Wilson Group. They were previously turned back by heavy, monsoonal rains. We spent the night at the Rock of Ages trailhead. A 4am wake-up call and we were on the trail. We gained the Rock of Ages saddle within 1 hour and 20 minutes (13,000'). We descended into Navajo Basin and then began climbing the intimidating North face of Mt Wilson. This involved scrambling and Class 4 climbing on ice covered rocks. A few hair-raising moves and we gained the summit.
Venzara makes his summit move.
El Diente Peak ~ 14,159'
Wilson Peak ~ 14,017'
Elevation Gain ~ 7,400
Mileage ~ 13
Miles Venzara (Pine Needle Mountaineering) and Greg Lewis (Mt Bike/CycloCross haunch) invited me along on their second attempt of the Wilson Group. They were previously turned back by heavy, monsoonal rains. We spent the night at the Rock of Ages trailhead. A 4am wake-up call and we were on the trail. We gained the Rock of Ages saddle within 1 hour and 20 minutes (13,000'). We descended into Navajo Basin and then began climbing the intimidating North face of Mt Wilson. This involved scrambling and Class 4 climbing on ice covered rocks. A few hair-raising moves and we gained the summit.
Venzara makes his summit move.
Next we headed for the El Diente Traverse (The Tooth in Spanish). This is one of Colorado's classic traverses. The climb up El Diente proved mild after the Organ Pipes we encountered on the traverse. We topped out on El Diente to make it 2 for 3. A long treacherous down climb to Navajo Basin followed.
Simmons summits a Pipe
(photo courtesy Miles Venzara)
Lewis and Venzara descend a Pipe.
After reaching Navajo Basin we set our sights on the 3rd peak; Wilson. Wilson proved to be the easiest of the three. Unfortunately we topped out just as an impressive thunder/hailstorm rolled in. As we began a running descent, Lewis rolled his ankle. This made for a challenging 4 mile run in a hailstorm.
3 for 3, a good day in the San Juans!
Lewis rocking his bike helmet.
