TR: Wilson Peak (aka the one in the Coors ads)
Wilson Peak, 14,017ft
San Juan mountains, Colorado
North East Face
Skied the peak in the Coors commercials on Saturday with Marc, Ben (Benners on TGR) and Rick.
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Our line.
http://imageshack.us/m/818/453/1wilsonpeakarrow.jpg
Parked on the road below the Wilson Mesa and Silver Pick trailheads around 9,650ft. Left the truck by 3:45am Saturday morning. Skinning the road was efficient until we had a mandatory game of Limbo.
http://imageshack.us/m/845/6744/33162735.jpg
Ben, Rick, and Marc in the basin for sunrise.
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Climbing the northwest face is efficient cause it puts you on the ridge less than two hundred vert from the summit.
http://imageshack.us/m/42/7050/69122193.jpg
Ben and Rick negotiating the brief dry section before the ridge.
http://imageshack.us/m/94/5459/17261892.jpg
Cresting the ridge provides amazing views of Gladstone, Mt. Wilson, and El Diente (Sunday's objective). Catching the sun, these views, and the realization that you're only 10 minutes from the summit, all at the same time, made getting up in the middle of the night and skinng in the dark for hours well worth it.
http://imageshack.us/m/24/497/43733342.jpg
Made the summit about 9am.
http://imageshack.us/m/571/9431/7carlontopbyben.jpg
And enjoyed the views for a little too long.
http://imageshack.us/m/10/6528/7acar...wilsonpeak.jpg
Stopped just below the summit to figure out the line.
http://imageshack.us/m/863/5972/8byrick.jpg
The first few hundred vert were pretty steep. Pushing 55 degrees in spots. Unfortunately the coverage in this section was thin so we were all too nervous to link many turns. With good snow this top section would be incredible.
http://imageshack.us/m/804/9657/8abyben.jpg
After a couple dozen sketchy jump and kick turns we got to where things looked promosing.
http://imageshack.us/m/153/9071/77994986.jpg
Finally able to relax a bit.
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/2713/9carlbyrick3.jpg
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We cut right about a hundred yards where our line appeared to end in cliffs and found another couloir with a small entry fee.
http://imageshack.us/m/703/2594/38859634.jpg
Ben making turns in the lower chute.
http://imageshack.us/m/190/4267/44313746.jpg
Opening it up lower down.
http://imageshack.us/m/829/7141/15carlbyrick2.jpg
The day ends by traversing hard left
http://imageshack.us/m/196/1275/15341691.jpg
and fighting our way through some tight trees to find the truck.
http://imageshack.us/m/859/8523/81005500.jpg
Went to Telluride for burgers and then really enjoyed doing nothing the rest of the day before totally exhausting ourselves on El Diente Sunday.
http://imageshack.us/m/41/8414/12601779.jpg
