Wilson Benchmark

Several years ago, Tom took us up Wilson Peak near Bryce Canyon in his Can-Am.  Surveying the surrounding landscape from the top, one particular red-walled sandstone butte immediately caught our eye.  When we got home, Kent began to study Google Earth to see if there might be a route we could use to summit this formation.  He was surprised to discover not only a possible route, but a 1929 benchmark waiting on the summit.  That was more than enough to get him motivated.  Today it's time to find out for ourselves:  Can we actually make it to the top?

Wilson Benchmark
Wilson Peak is to the left . . . Why wouldn't you put Wilson Benchmark on Wilson Peak??

We parked our truck shortly after entering Hillsdale Canyon, which is on the southside of the butte . . .
Our plan is to walk eastward, past the butte, and ascend from the backside
(Wilson Benchmark is the butte to the left of the Ponderosa Pine)

Almost immediately we were greeted with this nice window formation . . .
We might have to go back and spend some time exploring the smaller buttes that guard the fortress

Western Wallflower

It was interesting to find conglomerate rocks mixed in among the red sandstone

After about 1.5 miles we turned north and followed a wash . . .
This picture makes the wash look like it was filled with annoying obstacles . . .
It was, but nothing too bad . . . this picture was more the exception . . . Allison says otherwise!

After about a mile, we climbed out of the wash and headed for a ridge we hoped would take us to the top

On the ridge . . . the plan is working well!
We were surprised at how far away the peak looked . . . we still have a mile to go
(That "little" peak behind the two dead trees is the crux of the hike . . . very, very steep and poor footing)

Nearing the top of the little peak . . .
Kent is hoping that we don't have to descend to a saddle before heading back up for the final push

Good news . . . we were able to walk a ridge directly over to Wilson Benchmark!

More conglomerate rock . . . sure seems out-of-place, especially up here

We must be getting higher . . . Bristlecone pines are starting to appear

Finally, at the top!
Notice the reference marker pointing to the benchmark that Kent is standing by

Wilson Benchmark (1929) . . . Elevation 8,650 ft
(In 1971 the USGS made this observation, "Reached by helicopter.  Good landing at station". . . are they talking about the same peak??  No way I would have wanted to be in that helicopter!)

Looking back towards what remains of the tripod that once stood over the benchmark

Looking southwest to where we parked our truck . . .
That's Hillsdale Ranch near the small pond that is also visible

The obligatory selfie from the two benchmark baggers!

Heading back down . . .
That's Wilson Peak directly behind Kent and in the distance you can see Powell Point

We decided to try a different route on our way back . . .
The arrow points to the ridge we decided to walk down and the wash we walked up is on the other side . . .
The arrow is also pointing to an interesting find that we made and is pictured two frames below

Stemless Townsend Daisy

Here's what the arrow was pointing to . . .
It's a survey marker and the tree behind it had a blaze cut into it

1925
Makes you wonder how many people, over the hundred years, have actually seen this marker?

After working around some cliffs on the ridge, we decide to drop down to this drainage . . .
The road we'll walk back to our truck is just a couple of hundred yards down the wash

Almost back . . .
A final look at the window we saw earlier, only this time from the other side

It was fun to see these pronghorn just lazing around

A good sight to see!

Here's a Google Earth shot of our route
(Click on the picture for an enlarged view)

This hike was much harder than expected!  All total we ended up hiking just about 6 miles with 1500 ft of total ascent.  Due to the 2025 France Canyon fire, many of the washes had eroded out portions of the road that heads deeper into Hillsdale Canyon.  We suspect that the road will be passable later this year and this will cut off nearly 3 miles from the total distance.  If you're interested in our GPS tracks, just email us and we'll send you our route.  Click here for a link to Tom's peakbagger.com post for a topo map of the area.  All-in-all it was a good day and a sense of accomplishment to "bag" another benchmark!