Wilson Mountain First Bench Nov 14
A climb up the Wilson Mountain trail from Midgley Bridge to First Bench, then down the North Wilson trail to Encinoso Campground
1
WILSON - FIRST BENCH Waiting at Midgley Bridge as we set up the shuttle arrangement.
2
3
4
5
6
7
Start of the open, mostly treeless South WIlson Trail
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
A good view of the back of Steamboat Rock
16
17
18
19
20
21
As we climb, the views expand
22
23
The final climb into the saddle on the side of WIlson Mountain
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
Looking back at Midgley
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
The saddle, First Bench, is capped with basalt that represents a primordial lava flow
49
50
51
Looking across into Oak Creek Canyon. This is a good place for lunch.
52
53
54
55
The 'sash' around this formation is a highly distorted light layer
56
57
58
59
Crossing the bench, we can now look down into the North Wilson trail to its intersection with Oak Creek Canyon at Encinoso Campground
60
The beginning of the Bttins Mesa Fire burn area on North Wilson
61
62
63
64
65
66
In sheltered pockets, a few autumn leaves persist
67
68
We move down into the canyon on the North Wilson side
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
As we approach Oak Creek Canyon, we see a limestone wall exposed behind exfoliating sandstone.
80
Arrival at Encinoso Campground, for shuttle by road to Midgly Bridge.
