Basin Wall

BETA PHOTO: First light on the Basin wall on a cold winter day...

Description 

The Basin Wall lies high up on Mt Wilson's east face. It faces east and sits to the south and recessed back from the Horseshoe Wall. The rock, like much of Wilson, varies considerably but for the most part is solid and is notably better than the poor rock typical at the top of the Wilson formation. The wall was originally named in the Red Urioste Guide but was not listed as having any ascents.

Getting There 

Approach: 2-3 hours
I prefer parking & starting at the First Creek trailhead as I use the first creek descent from the top of Wilson. Any of the standard pullouts on route 159 will work however. You can approach using one of two gullies leading up on the south end of the east face of Wilson. Both can be found in Handren’s Guide on page 92 as the approaches for the Blue Diamond Ridge.

Option 1: The north gulley option is described in the Handren guide as the approach for Blue Diamond Ridge. You would just continue up the gulley past the start of the BD ridge and generally stay on the right side until reaching the main bushy ledge below the Basin Wall.

Option 2: For the South gulley option you begin as the approach for the Mass Extinction Crag in the Handren Guide. Continue up the gulley to the right of Mass Extinction. Cut right (north) out of the gulley just before a deep, dark, chimney. Climb a few hundred feet up 4th and easy 5th class climbing that connects back into the gulley above the chimney. Continue through a large dark passage and up to a saddle on the right. Drop down (northwest) and traverse straight across and then up to the Basin Wall. Gain the main ledge below the wall on the right.

The Classics