On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Good Morning, everyone!
I’m so happy to share this contribution this morning, though I’m biased by a deep love of Colorado. Should any have the chance, the drive from Durango to Telluride via Delores, etc. is just amazing, especially if you’re a trout fisher or amateur/professional geologist.
Over our anniversary, my wife and I went on our annual climbing trip, climbing another three 14,000 foot tall peaks over three days. This year we were in the San Juan Range outside of Telluride, climbing Wilson Peak, Mount Wilson, and El Diente. The Wilson group is a collection of some of the tougher peaks in Colorado. All in all, a great adventure.
This first post will concentrate on our climb of Wilson Peak. WP is a classic triangular peak, and probably very familiar to most of you. From Telluride ski area it is the peak that forms the western skyline. It is also the peak featured in caricature on the label of Coors Light beer.
Both Wilson Peak and Mt Wilson were named for AJ Wilson, the chief cartographer for the Hayden Survey. I’m not sure what AJ did to rate having two 14er’s located within a mile of each other named after him, but it was an honor to climb the peaks.
Visually, the Wilson group is overwhelming. The peaks are rugged and the climbing position is spectacular. I have decided to break our trip into a couple of posts in order to share more photos of my home state.
On to the first climb!
For our first climb, we climbed Wilson Peak. We camped at the trailhead, and we were to only people in the parking lot. We got up at an ungodly hour to eat breakfast and begin the climb. By 4:45 we were on the trail, hiking by headlamp through the forest for a couple of mile. As we broke out of the trees at about 11,200 feet, we were greeted by a spectacular sunrise.
We climbed through the Silver Pick Basin, past several Ould mines, and worked our way up to Rock of Ages saddle, near the RoA mine.
From the RoA saddle, our route headed up the southwest ridge, aiming for the false summit above. I felt like we were Frodo and Samwise climbing into Mordor, hiking across steep, sometimes loose rock.
Views from the summit were amazing. This view looks to the east. The prominent peak that is just to the right of the middle of the photo the Lizard Head Peak, one of the most dangerous climbs in Colorado. The risk of rockfall climbing that peak is very high. I was glad to have the solid rock of the Wilson Group for our climbs on this trip. Maybe someday I’ll get up the nerve to climb Lizard Head, but not this trip. Beyond Lizard Head are the four Chicago Basin 14er’s, a trip for next summer.
Another view, looking north from the summit. On the right side you can see the ski slopes of Telluride. On the skyline is another set of 14er’s, including Umcompahgre and Wetterhorn.
After lunch at the summit, we still had to descend the peak. Our route took us over the false summit, visible on the right side of the phono, and then down the long ridge the low point on the left of the photo.
Columbines in the basin. We missed seeing them in the dark on our way up.
I will submit Part 2 soon.
opiejeanne
Was there any sort of trail? It really did look like you were climbing into Mordor
Some of these photos are chilling in the isolation, and speculating about the path you’d have to take to get across those ridges and saddles and false peaks.
Wag
@opiejeanne:
The trail was faint, but if you paid attention, you could keep to the path. It is always easier to see the path while descending, so heading down went more quickly.
JPL
The pictures are amazing, but I have to say that is one hike I wouldn’t do even when I was younger.
p.a.
Awesome! Thanx!
Barbara
That is awesome. I would live to do it but the elevation would make it difficult.
debbie
I was in Telluride for the second or third film festival (before it began gentrifying and building up). What a beautiful place it was! I probably did a lot of looking up at these mountains. Your climb is quite impressive!
waratah
Thank you for the Columbine. I have seen that country twice and not had the urge to climb the peaks. I think everyone should see it once I cannot find words to describe it.
J R in WV
My only experience with a fourteener was Mt Antero, and we cheated because there is a road all the way to the currently abandoned Climax Molybdenum mine. We went there because it has the famously highest gem deposits in the lower 49 states. I brought down a small smoky quartz specimen which I still have somewhere.
But OMG, how beautiful Colorado is from up on top like that.
Great photos, wonderful climb, congratulations on the safe journey. And thanks for fomenting all those memories, I won’t be doing that again at my age. I don’t want to be the subject in the “old guy does stupid outdoor thing , dies old in fall” news stories.
Victor Matheson
I climbed Wilson, Wilson, and El Diente (the Tooth) about 25 years ago. I don’t imagine they have gotten any easier! That’s a nice accomplishment.
Just as an aside to our animal fans here, the first dog to ever climb all of Colorado’s fourteeners was named “Diente” after this mountain.
And if you liked this mountain group, you are going to love the Needles and Chicago Basin next year!
ola azul
Great pics, tx. for sharing.
Curious: what’s the elevation gain, i.e. the starting elevation at the parking lot before you ascend to 14,023?
arrieve
Beautiful pictures — thanks! I’ve never liked heights, so even when my knees and I were younger, it’s not an adventure I would have chosen, but I’m so glad to share vicariously.
Wag
@Victor Matheson:
We climbed Mt Wilson and El Diente a couple of days after our climb of Wilson Peak. I hopefully will be submitting Part 2 in the next few days. I’m really excited about the Needles next summer, along with Capital and the Bells.
MelissaM
Wow. These are lovely, and wow. That rock looks treacherous!
Wag
@ola azul:
the Rock of Ages trailhead is at 10,350, summit is 14.017. Round trip distance is 10 miles.
ola azul
@Wag:
Tx. Gives me some frame of reference. Looks like a great climb.
Clambered up Mt. Edgecumbe (an “inactive” volcano) on Krestof Is. (near Sitka) this summer. Starts at sea-level (anchored out offa Fred’s Creek, skiffed to shore), goes to 3600 feet. 13.5 mi round-trip. (Expect your terrain was far more challenging than what we encountered.) First 4 miles of Edgecumbe climb is steady rise across marine rain-forest and mountain meadow. Hadda schizophrenic mix of rain (a relief; was hot) and sun. Blacktail deer and brown bear country; had no sightings of them, tho lotsa scat and tracks, but did manage to get stung by a wasp. Last 3 miles gets steepish, and last 3/4-mile is purty steep with rocky scree and loose sand. (All fours in places, mostly as a matter of solidifyng footing.)
Really enjoy this feature of the blog, and tx. again for sharing your experience, Wag. Looks like a hoot!
Wag
@ola azul:
Sounds like a great climb! Maybe you should do a post…
TaMara (HFG)
Wag, great photos and lovely climb. I’m not much of a climber, but when I need to clear my head, a day in the mountains, hiking a gentle trail, restores my spirit.
TomatoQueen
Most impressive range of pics, and then the columbines for dessert–lovely
Miss Bianca
Ah, I miss the Western Slope. Don’t get me wrong, I’m hardly deprived, I have a stunning view of the Sangre de Cristo range from the deck of the Mountain Hacienda, but no matter how long I live here, the Western Slope will still have my heart
@ola azul: The Alaskan coast remains the most stunningly beautiful place I have ever seen, and I live in a pretty damn stunning spot. Mountains and sea, you can’t ask for anything better.
Dmbeaster
I love mountain climbing – most of my experience is in the Sierras. Could post some great pics of those climbs – most recently up the mountaineers route on Whitney.
Love the San Juans, though just hiked there. I had one great summer 4 wheeling and taking flower pictures. The back road opportunities there are crazy, plus a rare chance to take someone to high alpine meadows who could not typically hike to such places.
My first experience in Telluride was in 1970 when it was practically a ghost town.
WaterGirl
Holy crap, I wouldn’t have the courage to climb on the rocks like that, but the photos are absolutely stunning. Your efforts were definitely rewarded by the view!
WaterGirl
You have probably noticed, but On the Road is no longer showing duplicate photos when it is the top post.
Mohagan
@JPL: Ditto!
stinger
I love On The Road SO MUCH.
Mike E
I climbed Wetterhorn in the summer of ’80 during an Outward Bound 23 day course…we were roughing it! It was on that peak where we learned Peter Sellers had died. Funny, the things you remember from nearly 40 years ago :-)
Wag
@Mike E:
Wetterhorn is one of my favorite 14er’s. The final push to the summit is amazing. We took our twins up summer before last and had a great time.
Victor Matheson
@Wag: Agreed. That last little staircase up Wetterhorn is just great.
PS: just to take a quick moment to brag, I am a veteran of all 54 Colorado 14ers. Working on the much more plentiful, but somewhat less challenging New England 4,000 footers in my new home now.
Wag
@Victor Matheson:
All 54? Excellent! We are working on it. I’m at 41, my wife at 40. We are having a ball. Hoping for a couple of winter summits this season.
I’m thinking of trudging on and finishing the Centennial peaks (the 100 highest peaks). That way I get a bunch of 13er’s as well. Lots of tough peaks there, including Dallas and Vestal. The Wham Ridge on Vestal has been a dream of mine for years.