Wilson Peak Access, Summer 2008

The Telluride Mountain Club (TMC) has been working with the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC), San Miguel County and the US Forest Service to restore access to one of Colorado’s most popular 14ers, Wilson Peak (14,017 ft). The Forest Service hosted a site walk in July 2008 to review their plans for a trail re-routing above Silver Pick Basin that will avoid private property, provide legal public access from a new trailhead to the peak, and may provide a more scenic and enjoyable route than the standard “trail” up old Silver Pick road.

Currently, the standard route on the southwest ridge of Wilson Peak is open to climbers approaching either from Navajo Basin to the southwest or Bilk Basin from the east. Access via Silver Pick road is still considered closed by the landowner.

In October 2007, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) finalized the purchase of 230 acres in the Silver Pick Basin allowing the Forest Service to begin planning for a re-route to the summit. Heavy snow in the region this year delayed access to the proposed trail until late July. The Forest Service will be formally scoping the area by the end of this summer.

The new trailhead will be located about 3 miles up the Elk Creek road, which starts near the Wilson Mesa trailhead on Silver Pick Road. The route will then climb above Elk Creek before switchbacking out of the Elk Creek cirque and entering the west side of Silver Pick Basin above the remaining private property. The trail will continue above the basin and reconnect with the traditional route before reaching the Rock of Ages Saddle. (See photo of proposed route at left). The proposed alignment offers incredible views of the Mount Sneffels Wilderness to the north, El Diente to the south, and the La Sals to the west. If the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation can be finalized in time, trail construction is expected to occur in the summer of 2009 and completed by fall.

While almost all of the proposed new route is on existing trails, the Colorado Mountain Club and TMC will be organizing a series of work days in 2009 to help link trail segments, and will solicit help from their members.

We would like to acknowledge the leadership provided over the past several years on the Wilson Peak issue by a few supporters including Steve Bonowski and Jeff Parsons (CMC), Steve Johnson (Access Fund), Tor Anderson (TMC), Judy Schutza (USFS Norwood District Ranger), Kathy Peckham (USFS Norwood District Recreation Planner), and representatives from San Miguel County: Board of County Commissioners, Steve Zwick (County Attorney), Kevin Geiger (Former Asst. Attorney), Mike Rozycki (Planning Director), Linda Luther and Kari Distefano (Open Space & Recreation).

HELP SUPPORT THE CMC WILSON PEAK ACCESS FUND
Please support these efforts to restore legal public access to Wilson Peak by donating to the Wilson Peak Access Fund. You may elect to make a one-time or monthly recurring donation through the CMC. The CMC Foundation has offered to match every contribution to Wilson Peak up to $5,000 through the Gehres Fourteeners Fund. Call Doug at 303-996-2752 if you need assistance or have any questions about how to contribute to Wilson Peak.