- Date: August 15, 2025
- Partner: Randy Weaver
- Height: 14,021 feet
- Range: San Juan
- Route: Southwest Ridge (Class 3)
- Overall Distance: 10 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,900 feet (car to summit)
- 14ers climbed: 48 separate climbs
- 14ers remaining: 5
- Road Condition to Trailhead: You are going to a need a good map and a 4WD for this just to play it safe. It’s 8.5 sinuous miles on Silver Pick Rd (all dirt) from the Hwy 145 blacktop with a couple subtle turns along the way. Study the driving directions on 14ers.com and have these downloaded on your phone prior to heading out. Be advised there are several rough sections of road and a stream crossing that will require high clearance on the way to Rock of Ages Trailhead.
It was back to the San Juans as my 14er journey continued into 2025. My brother-in-law, Randy Weaver, joined me once again as we had our eyes set on Wilson Peak. We flew into Grand Junction, via Denver, on a Thursday afternoon and rented a Jeep Rubicon. No sooner did we leave the airport than a passing truck threw up a rock, which cracked our windshield — not a good start to the trip. Eventually, we made our way to a small motel in Norwood for the night.
We embarked from the Rock of Ages trailhead slightly before dawn the next day. I would not say there is anything remarkable or tricky about this approach. In my opinion, it was deceptively steep — you’ll climb 2,600′ in just over four miles. After the first mile, we ascending out of Elk Creek Basin and entered into Silver Pick Basin. The trail was clearly defined. In the distance, we were able to see the Rock of Ages saddle and Wilson Peak to its left. The trail then became an old, rocky mining road, perhaps a bit monotonous. At around 12,000′, we moved onto another trail that ran perpendicular to steeper terrain of solid rocks and talus. Randy and I did encounter some small patches of ice-packed snow but nothing serious. The goal is to reach the saddle (~13,000′) and it is here the real technical finesse work begins.
Get your mapping software out and pay attention for the next mile! You will head roughly east on the Rock of Ages saddle and traverse a slope of solid rocks and talus to yet another (small) saddle. Dropping off the saddle, Randy and I thought this next part of the climb was sketchy and a bit dangerous — we poked our way through a couple hundred yards of exposed ledges until we got on solid ground. Once again we traversed the side of the steep ridgeline looking for cairns as we could see them. Taking care to check our route on the GPS, we eventually ascended to a wicked false summit.
Once we successfully crested the false summit, the problem of getting to the actual summit appeared and it was a bit foreboding. First thing you’ll want to do is to study a picture of the route from 14ers.com. We had to descend down into a steep gully, but not too far, making sure to stay toward our right where there was more solid rock and ledges. You’ll want to choose your line slowly and carefully. The goal here is to get to the bottom of the so-called “Gash”, the crux of the climb. The Gash itself is a quite steep section of Class 3 rock but the there are good hand and footholds for roughly 50 yards (?) all the way to the top. So you remember how to safely descend, be sure to note this location with a cairn before walking the remaining short and easy walk to the summit.
All told, I would say this climb is a solid 7.5 out of 10 in terms of difficulty. While it did rain on our way out, weather was never really a factor for Randy and me. Clocking in at 10 miles, almost 4,000′ of ascent, and with a tricky ridgeline mixed with some bouldering, you will get your money’s worth for your day out in the mountains. Next on tap will be Sunlight Peak, the last of the San Juan Mountains for me.
