Wilson Peak (14,017) by Brian Schultz Thursday July 23, 1998
Success finally! I left alone at 5:55 and trudged up the same route into the Silver Pick basin, just like yesterday. My familiarity with the area was comforting, unlike the first two times which were adventures in getting lost, but even those efforts paid off with the experience and knowledge gained. I wasn't going to fool around trying to find the Northwest Face route like last September- I knew where I needed to go on the southwest ridge. I reached the saddle at 8:00 and the view across Navajo Basin was just as spectacular as yesterday, but the clouds behind Mt Wilson were getting dark already so I pushed on.
The trail from the saddle to the next saddle on the Wilson-Gladstone ridge was well marked. Once past it, I stayed below the ridge on easier but loose rocks and made a line for the false summit. It's not necessary to gain the ridge because you end up dropping below it anyway. Instead of climbing up to the top of the false summit I stayed to the left of it and stopped to look down the very imposing cut. In 1995 I couldn't go any further because of my fear of the exposure but this time I was ready for it. I also did what I just vowed never to do again- I dropped my pack. It seemed unnecessary to have it banging around when I didn't need it for the last 150 feet or so. I carefully climbed down and worked my way to the right and then climbed back up to the ridge. After regaining the ridge it only took a few minutes to walk up to the summit, which I made at 9:55. I was ecstatic and let out a whoop. Perhaps the third time really is the charm. Whatever, it was great!
I was the first one up as far as I could tell; the register was full of scraps with names scribbled all over them. I wanted to stay and enjoy my good fortune but the dark clouds were coming in and they looked like rain. The climb back down was easier than I figured it to be and I retrieved my pack. I soon passed a caravan of very young girls led by two guys, closing in on the false summit. Lots of other hikers followed after them - I quit counting after 20. I took a short break at the small Wilson-Gladstone saddle, chatting with another solo climber and having a bite to eat. I no sooner got to the saddle of the Silver Pick and it started raining. I slowed way down, not wanting a repeat of last September.
When I dropped into the basin I noticed two young women and a dog converging from the right. I mentioned not seeing them earlier and they informed me they took the Northwest Face route. I looked behind me and now saw the route that I tried and failed on last year! They moved on at a fast pace while I took it slow. I got back to the truck at 1:15, very glad to be leaving the Silver Pick Basin. Summitting both Wilsons was super but I was ready for an easy fourteener next.
Total hike time- 7 hours 20 minutes