Mt. Sherman Trip Report 08/31/2016

Peak(s):	Mt. Sherman - 14,043 feet
Date Posted:	08/31/2016
Modified:	09/07/2016
Date Climbed:	08/31/2016
Author:	JeremyLikness
Additional Members:	Grit

Mt. Sherman - 4 Mile
We decided to tackle Mt. Sherman as our first 14er. Last year we came close to making the summit of Mt. Bierstadt but were driven down by thunderstorms. After reading up, we felt this would be a great first one. I should add that my wife had major back surgery and was fused from her neck down to her sacrum. This was several years ago but the hardware provides some limitations - falls are not good at all and she can't bend or twist, and she recently had two incidents that reinjured her. She hikes with a cane and trekking pole and despite recent setbacks was bound and determined to conquer the mountain. We stayed in Fairplay which was a great choice because it is literally right "around the corner" from the mountain. We drove down CR 18 (4 Mile) and immediately realized it was going to be a long approach. With her back condition she can't take the severe bumps and although the road is generally good there are sections that are extremely rocky and full of potholes, etc. There was no way to avoid bouncing so we took it slow. It is a little confusing at first to decide where to park. We came up to an open gate with a large space and parked there, but then when we were hiking up we found other cars parked next to the actual mining structures. I assume this is open based on conditions but a quick check with GPS told us we were on the right start for the ~5 mile loop (we just wanted to make sure we hadn't signed up for 8 miles or longer!) We finally got onto the trail by 7:42 am, later than expected but still plenty of time to summit by noon. The initial hike is very easy going, although there are quite a few places the "road" branches off so you need to know the general direction of Sherman (mainly to your right as you are hiking up) to make the right choices. This was a very easy approach and fun to see the old mines and structures. The next phase moves into a field of scree. There are several ways up, including a very long/wide set of switch backs. If you really focus however you can see cairns and those mark the most direct route. Although the route was very visible from above, so we found it on the way down, it wasn't as obvious coming up and we ended up scrambling up a much steeper section than needed to get onto the saddle. Once on the saddle you can easily see your path up towards the summit. The next step is a scramble up steep rocks. This wouldn't be too challenging for most but obviously with our concerns about my wife slipping we took it nice and slow. Near the top of that we ended up with a very clear path that was also covered in snow. We did not expect snow and the compacted path was a little slippery but with some patience we made it. After cresting that, we began the series of false summits. Although this hike is ranked "easy" when you are on a narrow ridge line with thousand foot drops on either side you know "easy" is a relative term. Add to that the snow over everything and we were moving at a careful snail's pace to avoid slipping or falling. It was a little frustrating to crest one section, only to see another, but I think this only happened two times before we made it onto the main ridge. Although the ridge was covered in snow, it is very flat so the remaining walk (I estimate just around a quarter mile?) to the actual summit was easy. There is a stone that marks the summit, lots of wind and incredible views. We made it to the summit by 11:30, and we were going very slow so others could make it much quicker. Of course, getting up there was only half the battle. It was actually a lot worse coming down. The sun had melted the snow and made most of the decent very slippery. I lost my footing several times, my daughter took a spill, and my wife slid a few times but managed not to fall. After picking our way down the snow, the descent down the rocks was very exhausting (this is one case where I agree downhill can be more painful than uphill). Here we made a classic mistake. We knew we were being baked by the sun, getting it from two sides (the sky and the snow), and of course we came prepared with sunscreen, right? Oops. That was in the other pack. We all were completely fried - worse sunburn I've had in years, and of course 100% my own fault. The nice part about coming down is the trail across the scree field is very obvious from above, so we were able to take a very direct route down. It was nice feeling the "flat" road under our feet and a nice, easy (albeit long) walk back to the truck. We were back by roughly 2:30pm. Overall a tremendous experience. I think anyone looking to summit a 14er should consider this because it is a very obvious and direct route, and has the perfect combination of easy-going and challenging sections with a superbly rewarding view. Here's some snaps from the hike: Approaching the summit ... On the ridges On the summit My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload): Login required to view this map... Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Mt. Sherman - 4 Mile

We decided to tackle Mt. Sherman as our first 14er. Last year we came close to making the summit of Mt. Bierstadt but were driven down by thunderstorms. After reading up, we felt this would be a great first one. I should add that my wife had major back surgery and was fused from her neck down to her sacrum. This was several years ago but the hardware provides some limitations - falls are not good at all and she can't bend or twist, and she recently had two incidents that reinjured her. She hikes with a cane and trekking pole and despite recent setbacks was bound and determined to conquer the mountain.

We stayed in Fairplay which was a great choice because it is literally right "around the corner" from the mountain. We drove down CR 18 (4 Mile) and immediately realized it was going to be a long approach. With her back condition she can't take the severe bumps and although the road is generally good there are sections that are extremely rocky and full of potholes, etc. There was no way to avoid bouncing so we took it slow.

It is a little confusing at first to decide where to park. We came up to an open gate with a large space and parked there, but then when we were hiking up we found other cars parked next to the actual mining structures. I assume this is open based on conditions but a quick check with GPS told us we were on the right start for the ~5 mile loop (we just wanted to make sure we hadn't signed up for 8 miles or longer!)

We finally got onto the trail by 7:42 am, later than expected but still plenty of time to summit by noon. The initial hike is very easy going, although there are quite a few places the "road" branches off so you need to know the general direction of Sherman (mainly to your right as you are hiking up) to make the right choices. This was a very easy approach and fun to see the old mines and structures.

The next phase moves into a field of scree. There are several ways up, including a very long/wide set of switch backs. If you really focus however you can see cairns and those mark the most direct route. Although the route was very visible from above, so we found it on the way down, it wasn't as obvious coming up and we ended up scrambling up a much steeper section than needed to get onto the saddle. Once on the saddle you can easily see your path up towards the summit.

The next step is a scramble up steep rocks. This wouldn't be too challenging for most but obviously with our concerns about my wife slipping we took it nice and slow. Near the top of that we ended up with a very clear path that was also covered in snow. We did not expect snow and the compacted path was a little slippery but with some patience we made it.

After cresting that, we began the series of false summits. Although this hike is ranked "easy" when you are on a narrow ridge line with thousand foot drops on either side you know "easy" is a relative term. Add to that the snow over everything and we were moving at a careful snail's pace to avoid slipping or falling. It was a little frustrating to crest one section, only to see another, but I think this only happened two times before we made it onto the main ridge. Although the ridge was covered in snow, it is very flat so the remaining walk (I estimate just around a quarter mile?) to the actual summit was easy. There is a stone that marks the summit, lots of wind and incredible views. We made it to the summit by 11:30, and we were going very slow so others could make it much quicker.

Of course, getting up there was only half the battle. It was actually a lot worse coming down. The sun had melted the snow and made most of the decent very slippery. I lost my footing several times, my daughter took a spill, and my wife slid a few times but managed not to fall. After picking our way down the snow, the descent down the rocks was very exhausting (this is one case where I agree downhill can be more painful than uphill). Here we made a classic mistake. We knew we were being baked by the sun, getting it from two sides (the sky and the snow), and of course we came prepared with sunscreen, right? Oops. That was in the other pack. We all were completely fried - worse sunburn I've had in years, and of course 100% my own fault.

The nice part about coming down is the trail across the scree field is very obvious from above, so we were able to take a very direct route down. It was nice feeling the "flat" road under our feet and a nice, easy (albeit long) walk back to the truck. We were back by roughly 2:30pm.

Overall a tremendous experience. I think anyone looking to summit a 14er should consider this because it is a very obvious and direct route, and has the perfect combination of easy-going and challenging sections with a superbly rewarding view.

Here's some snaps from the hike:

Approaching the summit ...

On the ridges

On the summit

My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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