We started below the usual spot so we could gain 3000 ft. Lots of snow on the usual route with a big cornice guarding the ridge so we went up a much steeper and longer path north of the standard route. The wind was extremely strong on the top of the ridge. The view was spectacular. We stayed on the summit for 2 minutes and left. The old mines on this route are very interesting to look at.
Route Climbed: north ridge via Gemini's east ridge route Date Climbed: 2001
Started at the Little Sacramento Th and ascended Gemini's huge, broad, grassy east ridge to the summit of Gemini. Descended and hiked .7 miles over Sherman's huge grassy north ridge to the summit. Descended and hiked .5 mile on talus to Mt. Sheridan. On the way back skirted Gemini's summit to the west and hiked Dyer Peak(another centennial 13er). Watch out for the power lines! Descended straight down into Sacramento Creek Drainage and back to the car. A long day. Only people I saw were hiking Sherman, otherwise I think I went 9 hours with meeting another soal. Those grassy broad ridges are really cool places to visit.
Diggler - Mar 18, 2003 11:35 am Date Climbed: Jan 3, 2016
Route Climbed: South Ridge from Iowa Gulch Date Climbed: Summer 1996
The summit attempt with homeboy Uy ended in failure- parking shortly before the mine, we just walked up to, then past it. Going rather mindlessly (we hadn't an inkling of where the trail was), we encountered a headwall (the W-face- the steepest part of the mountain), and decided to retreat. Fortunately, this prompted me to buy Dawson's Guide (back then there was only one) at a bookstore in Leadville- great book! Returned a week or 2 later with a photo actually showing the location of the trail (still hard to find, esp. the trailhead- wouldn't have found it if it weren't for the book w/ photo), and cruised right up. Nice day & weather, I seem to remember.
Jan 3, '16- After hanging out with Z, his kids, & Brandon & his fam' for NYE (+ associated whisky & beer), there went new year's day climbing plans (started drive, but quickly figured out it wasn't happening). 1/2: Drove to the mountain from Parker, got an 11.17 start. Got above treeline(postholing with snowshoes at times to my knees), and knew there wasn't enough time... 2016, take 3 (1/3) Got to Limber Grove trailhead, starting from the Fourmile campground at 8.17. Made good initial time I'd broken to previous day's highpoint (~2 1/2 hours).
Terrain above (mixed sastrugi, postholing, & rocks) NOT fun! => decided to skirt BELOW White Ridge <- BAD idea!! More shitty terrain + side slope = brutal, soul-sucking, quad-destroying, demoralizing, & overall shitty.
Exhausted + (way) behind schedule when finally intersected ridge crest again. As REALLY didn't want to reverse terrain had just come from (or take different route below that would have gone back to ascent route), decided that best idea to descend to saddle between Sherman & White Ridge, summit, then descend via SW ridge -> mining road down.
Summited 15.22. Took a few pic's, enjoyed views in the cold, then took off (15.32). After ascertaining that SW ridge non-standard ascent/descent route (if at all since 1st snows had fallen), just followed footsteps/snowshoe tracks down to road- RIGHT decision!
LOOOOOOOONG walk back on road, but chill (literally: 15 degrees when reached truck). STOKED!!! Last CO 14er with minimum 3,000 ft. vertical gain, + 1st winter CO 14er! :D Back at truck at 19.05
big_g - Mar 3, 2003 4:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2002
Route Climbed: From the Leavick parking lot - easy route Date Climbed: June 16 2001
In many books Mount Sherman it rated the easiest fourteener in Colorado to hike, and I agree. I had only bagged one fourteener this year, but this time I felt like I have been doing this all year long. I started at the ghost town of Leavick a large well-preserved building is all that’s left of the town. Hiking up the road I passed a couple of modern houses all of which are on private property. After about one mile the road ends at the Dauntless Mine (12,230) an abandoned mine. A passenger car could actually get to this point. The trail steadily goes up to another abandoned mine named Hilltop Mine (12,840). After this point is where the climb starts and on the normal route there was a large snowfield with a cornice to traverse. The people in front of me were dodging the snowfield and going strait up the mountain. So I decided to follow. This accent was approximately 800 vertical feet in about a ¼ mile so it was steep and slow. Technically not challenging just steep. All in all this entire peak is for anyone. The scenery on the way up and the scenery at the summit were awesome. I felt that I was making progress in my conditioning with only couple of people passing me on the way up. I was ready to tackle a harder one next week.
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: Summer 1995?
On the way to the trailhead, we saw two moose, a cow and bull. What a wonderful surprise as I didn't know moose were in that area. The climb was short, fun, a very nice day. We were back to the car before noon and had the rest of the day to do whatever. It wasn't too crowded although there were plenty of people along the way.
Route Climbed: Leavick Site Trailhead Date Climbed: August 18, 2002
This was really neat if you like the old mining stuff. It was chilly this morning, and I didn't see more than 12 others up and back down. I left at around 6:30am and was first to Summit. I hit Sheridan also, but that was pretty much a boring hill climb.
Route Climbed: Leavick Site Trailhead Date Climbed: October 28, 2002
My first winter climb. The snow was quite deep in places, especially on the summit ridge. The winds on the summit ridge were unbelievable! It was still a relatively easy climb - without snow it would have been a piece of cake.
Route Climbed: Four Mile Creek Trailhead Date Climbed: June 6, 2001
My son Patrick and I climbed Sherman by going to the saddle between Sheridan and Sherman and continuing along the ridge to the summit. Found the summit register this time. Patrick descended the ascent route of my first climb while I went on to the saddle and glissaded down while he took my picture. This is as easy as any of the 14'ers I've climbed, but it still demands respect since the weather in the Mosquito's is very volatile.
Route Climbed: South Ridge from Four Mile Creek Date Climbed: June 25, 1995
I climbed directly to the base of the final pitch to the summit. It was much shorter than climbing to the low point of the saddle between Sheridan and Sherman, but is a lot steeper. Did my first glissade on the way down. Couldn't find the summit register. It probably was buried in the snow.
Route Climbed: 4 Mile Creek TH Date Climbed: 8/14/2001
This was the 2nd of 5 fouteeners that my partner and I hiked over 5 days. It is possible to drive further up the road in a passenger car than the Leavick townsite, as is stated in the Roach book 'Colorado's Fourteeners'. This cuts a couple of miles off the hike. The weather was borderline bad this day, we had visibility of about 100 feet on the summit, with 40-50 mph winds. this made for lots of frost on the clothes, and ice in the mustache. Very few others on the mountain that day! This is a great climb - lots of interesting mining ruins along the way.
granddeity - Jun 7, 2003 1:25 am
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: 06/03/2003We started below the usual spot so we could gain 3000 ft. Lots of snow on the usual route with a big cornice guarding the ridge so we went up a much steeper and longer path north of the standard route. The wind was extremely strong on the top of the ridge. The view was spectacular. We stayed on the summit for 2 minutes and left. The old mines on this route are very interesting to look at.
Kane - Jun 4, 2003 7:38 pm
Route Climbed: north ridge via Gemini's east ridge route Date Climbed: 2001Started at the Little Sacramento Th and ascended Gemini's huge, broad, grassy east ridge to the summit of Gemini. Descended and hiked .7 miles over Sherman's huge grassy north ridge to the summit. Descended and hiked .5 mile on talus to Mt. Sheridan. On the way back skirted Gemini's summit to the west and hiked Dyer Peak(another centennial 13er). Watch out for the power lines! Descended straight down into Sacramento Creek Drainage and back to the car. A long day. Only people I saw were hiking Sherman, otherwise I think I went 9 hours with meeting another soal. Those grassy broad ridges are really cool places to visit.
Diggler - Mar 18, 2003 11:35 am Date Climbed: Jan 3, 2016
Route Climbed: South Ridge from Iowa Gulch Date Climbed: Summer 1996The summit attempt with homeboy Uy ended in failure- parking shortly before the mine, we just walked up to, then past it. Going rather mindlessly (we hadn't an inkling of where the trail was), we encountered a headwall (the W-face- the steepest part of the mountain), and decided to retreat. Fortunately, this prompted me to buy Dawson's Guide (back then there was only one) at a bookstore in Leadville- great book! Returned a week or 2 later with a photo actually showing the location of the trail (still hard to find, esp. the trailhead- wouldn't have found it if it weren't for the book w/ photo), and cruised right up. Nice day & weather, I seem to remember.
Jan 3, '16- After hanging out with Z, his kids, & Brandon & his fam' for NYE (+ associated whisky & beer), there went new year's day climbing plans (started drive, but quickly figured out it wasn't happening). 1/2: Drove to the mountain from Parker, got an 11.17 start. Got above treeline(postholing with snowshoes at times to my knees), and knew there wasn't enough time... 2016, take 3 (1/3) Got to Limber Grove trailhead, starting from the Fourmile campground at 8.17. Made good initial time I'd broken to previous day's highpoint (~2 1/2 hours).
Terrain above (mixed sastrugi, postholing, & rocks) NOT fun! => decided to skirt BELOW White Ridge <- BAD idea!! More shitty terrain + side slope = brutal, soul-sucking, quad-destroying, demoralizing, & overall shitty.
Exhausted + (way) behind schedule when finally intersected ridge crest again. As REALLY didn't want to reverse terrain had just come from (or take different route below that would have gone back to ascent route), decided that best idea to descend to saddle between Sherman & White Ridge, summit, then descend via SW ridge -> mining road down.
Summited 15.22. Took a few pic's, enjoyed views in the cold, then took off (15.32). After ascertaining that SW ridge non-standard ascent/descent route (if at all since 1st snows had fallen), just followed footsteps/snowshoe tracks down to road- RIGHT decision!
LOOOOOOOONG walk back on road, but chill (literally: 15 degrees when reached truck). STOKED!!! Last CO 14er with minimum 3,000 ft. vertical gain, + 1st winter CO 14er! :D Back at truck at 19.05
big_g - Mar 3, 2003 4:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2002
Route Climbed: Fourmile CreekSurprisingly enjoyable ridge to the top.
Grant - Jan 16, 2003 1:08 pm
Route Climbed: From the Leavick parking lot - easy route Date Climbed: June 16 2001In many books Mount Sherman it rated the easiest fourteener in Colorado to hike, and I agree. I had only bagged one fourteener this year, but this time I felt like I have been doing this all year long. I started at the ghost town of Leavick a large well-preserved building is all that’s left of the town. Hiking up the road I passed a couple of modern houses all of which are on private property. After about one mile the road ends at the Dauntless Mine (12,230) an abandoned mine. A passenger car could actually get to this point. The trail steadily goes up to another abandoned mine named Hilltop Mine (12,840). After this point is where the climb starts and on the normal route there was a large snowfield with a cornice to traverse. The people in front of me were dodging the snowfield and going strait up the mountain. So I decided to follow. This accent was approximately 800 vertical feet in about a ¼ mile so it was steep and slow. Technically not challenging just steep. All in all this entire peak is for anyone. The scenery on the way up and the scenery at the summit were awesome. I felt that I was making progress in my conditioning with only couple of people passing me on the way up. I was ready to tackle a harder one next week.
mtnhiker13 - Dec 27, 2002 8:47 am
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: Summer 1995?On the way to the trailhead, we saw two moose, a cow and bull. What a wonderful surprise as I didn't know moose were in that area. The climb was short, fun, a very nice day. We were back to the car before noon and had the rest of the day to do whatever. It wasn't too crowded although there were plenty of people along the way.
rob_runkle - Nov 2, 2002 8:33 am
Route Climbed: Leavick Site Trailhead Date Climbed: August 18, 2002This was really neat if you like the old mining stuff. It was chilly this morning, and I didn't see more than 12 others up and back down. I left at around 6:30am and was first to Summit. I hit Sheridan also, but that was pretty much a boring hill climb.
Ed F - Oct 29, 2002 7:43 pm
Route Climbed: Leavick Site Trailhead Date Climbed: October 28, 2002My first winter climb. The snow was quite deep in places, especially on the summit ridge. The winds on the summit ridge were unbelievable! It was still a relatively easy climb - without snow it would have been a piece of cake.
climberkjp - Oct 22, 2002 11:10 am
Route Climbed: Southwest "Ridge" Date Climbed: July 1, 2000A nice afternoon jaunt; took a friend on his second 14er (his first, ironically, was North Maroon)
rmjwinters - Oct 6, 2002 2:09 pm
Route Climbed: Iowa Gulch Date Climbed: July 30 2001Nice to get this one done and move onto Quandary later today.
kcrag - Sep 19, 2002 9:28 pm
Route Climbed: Iowa Gultch then over to Dyer Date Climbed: Mid August 2002Nice hike. My first 14er!
wayneaflick - Jul 7, 2002 1:35 pm
Route Climbed: Four Mile Creek Trailhead Date Climbed: June 6, 2001My son Patrick and I climbed Sherman by going to the saddle between Sheridan and Sherman and continuing along the ridge to the summit. Found the summit register this time. Patrick descended the ascent route of my first climb while I went on to the saddle and glissaded down while he took my picture. This is as easy as any of the 14'ers I've climbed, but it still demands respect since the weather in the Mosquito's is very volatile.
wayneaflick - Jul 7, 2002 1:26 pm
Route Climbed: South Ridge from Four Mile Creek Date Climbed: June 25, 1995I climbed directly to the base of the final pitch to the summit. It was much shorter than climbing to the low point of the saddle between Sheridan and Sherman, but is a lot steeper. Did my first glissade on the way down. Couldn't find the summit register. It probably was buried in the snow.
ctruscot - Jun 4, 2002 9:09 am
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: September 18, 1999My first solo Colorodo 14er - piece of cake!
Matt Mahoney - May 19, 2002 3:40 pm
Route Climbed: Iowa Gulch Date Climbed: Aug 10 2000A quick climb.
Zeke - Jan 16, 2002 7:38 am
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: SeveralSummited in each season.
odysseus - Aug 23, 2001 6:19 pm
Route Climbed: 4 Mile Creek TH Date Climbed: 8/14/2001This was the 2nd of 5 fouteeners that my partner and I hiked over 5 days. It is possible to drive further up the road in a passenger car than the Leavick townsite, as is stated in the Roach book 'Colorado's Fourteeners'. This cuts a couple of miles off the hike. The weather was borderline bad this day, we had visibility of about 100 feet on the summit, with 40-50 mph winds. this made for lots of frost on the clothes, and ice in the mustache. Very few others on the mountain that day! This is a great climb - lots of interesting mining ruins along the way.
Colonelpyat - Aug 16, 2001 12:45 pm
Route Climbed: From Iowa Gulch Date Climbed: 08-13-2001Nice and easy route. Still, that did not keep me from breaking my ankle on the way down. Ouch!
Peter Eliassen - Aug 16, 2001 11:42 am
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: 8/15/96Excellent for a first 14er...pretty nice place.
Tess - Aug 14, 2001 8:12 pm
Route Climbed: Out of fairplay Date Climbed: 8/13/01This was my first 14'er and I may be hooked !
I actually climbed Sherman on my 5 month smoke-free
anniversary and it felt great ! On to Quandary ! WOOHOO !