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I've been hiking all summer as part of a fitness program and fell in love with it. It has been my goal to hike a 14er by the summers end. Well, Wednesday was the day!
My wife and I drove to Dillon on Tuesday night and stayed overnight. We got up the next morning and made the drive to Fairplay and then on to Mt. Sherman Trailhead.
The weather was perfect. It was a little cold (33) at 8:00am when we reached the trailhead and it had snowed up higher a couple of days earlier, but the sun was shining and we were ready for an adventure
This is from the parking area right around 12,000 feet. We were the only ones there.
We left our vehicle at 8:30 and we hiked around the gate and started up the road towards the Dauntless Mine.
This was our first time at this altitude. The previous week we hiked the 10-mile loop on Crag Crest. It goes from 10,000 to 11,000 feet. As I hiked I could feel the altitued and the mountain ahead seemed HUGE!
We stayed on the road going up to 12,200 feet just past the Dauntless. We could now see the Hilltop Mine ahead.
We continued up the road towards the Hilltop mine and we started getting into a little snow.
We made it to the Hilltop mine and looked around a bit. This is one of the buildings.
We then made our way up the next slope towards the saddle between Sherman and Sheridan. By this time I was getting acclimated to the altitude and was feeling pretty good. The trail was not as easy to see in this section but we just looked for the Cairns.
We got a little break on the saddle, some level ground! This is around 13,000 feet. We then started up the next climb towards the Ridge. This was a little steeper than before and the trail was more difficult to find. The snow was starting to get a little deeper as well.
As we climbed I kept thinking, "I can't believe I'm actually here." I also hoped I was following the trail because I was the first to go through the snow and I didn't want to lead others behind me the wrong way!
The snow helped in some ways to identify the trail.
Now at the ridge the trail gets a little narrow. I was surprised that it really didn't bother me. I was concentrating on good footing and just going up!
A little higher on the ridge.
Looking back down on the ridge. Yikes! did I just come up that?? The snow was deep in some places.
Off the ridge and a short, fairly level walk to the SUMMIT! It was now about noon. Yep, it took us 3 1/2 hours to summit. Well, we stopped as many times as we needed!
Here I am on the Summit.
We sat down and ate a little food and just soaked in the views! This one looks over towards Leadville with Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive behind.
We were joined after a bit by a great guy from Ft. Collins. We traded cameras and took pictures for each other. This is my wife and I. Could be a great Christmas Card Photo!!
Took a picture of my GPS. The altitude dosen't quite match the official height, but it was really cool to see 14K!!
We stayed about a half-hour and started back down at 12:30. We ran into some others on their way up. Tennis shoes and Blue Jeans! No water packs, just carried a bottle. Yikes! It was now much warmer and was in the 50's when we got down. Such a beautiful day!
Now back at the TH. I am tired and unbelievably excited. We did it! We are now planning our next climb!!
Good job on finishing your first 14er. I thought that Mt. Sherman was a lot of fun, even with a big crowd. By doing it late in the season and in the middle of the week, you avoided the crowds and probably had an even better experience. May your second summit be as nice. Check out some trip reports on Quandary Peak; it would probably be a good second 14er.
I can hear the excitement in your post. Takes me back to earlier this summer when I got my girlfriend up her 1st, thanks for sharing and CONGRATULATIONS
to you and your wife! It's a great feeling when you finally reach the top.. eeh? Now your gonna become addicted and want to do the other 53!
Congrats!!
Kirk
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