Background
On Monday, July 11th, 2022, I hiked Wilson Peak, a 14,023 foot class 3 mountain. The night before, I stayed at Mary E Campground, about 35 minutes from the Rock of Ages Trailhead. There were 3 free campsites close to the trailhead but I didn't chance them being occupied. For those focused on hiking Wilson Peak, the Rock of Ages trailhead is the most direct.
I started from the trailhead at around 5:30AM. Out-and-back the total time was 7 hours and 30 minutes, going 10.1 miles and gaining 3,907 feet in the process. I stopped at the saddle and summit plus went too low on the trail when returning and had to go backwards which added about an extra hour in total to the hike. There is an upper and lower route. All ways up have loose rocks and it's advised to always touch and pull on rocks before putting all your weight on them. Otherwise, you run the risk of falling or causing a rockslide.
Wilson Peak is featured on the Coors Light bottle. It's a famous peak which is near the town of Telluride, Colorado. The trail navigating, or route finding, can be difficult at times, especially if you go a different way back. The final section requires downclimbing and then climbing up a class 3 section. Some people there had a guide and used a rope but I was alone and did not use one.
Overall, Wilson Peak is a famous peak with loose rocks and a challenging class 3 climb at the end. The mountain has amazing views of the surrounding area.
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Chance
December 23rd, 2023
“A cumworthy mountain”
