4/9/2023 Route: South Slope Posted On: 4/9/2023, By: amderr22 Info: Excellent day today climbing Mount Sherman. Blue skies and gentle winds, all things considered. The South Slopes route is clear of major avy risk as of today, other than a few small wind-loaded slopes easy to identify and avoid. Areas above tree line are a mix of windblown exposed rock, wind-loaded snow, and unsupportive sugar. Snowshoes and microspikes were helpful and I would recommend them. We only saw four other people all day. Any 4WD vehicle can reach the winter trailhead - but listen to the sign and stop there. |
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3/19/2023 Route: South Slope Posted On: 3/19/2023, By: artemavovk Info: 95% skiable snow cover from winter trailhead; a tiny melted out spot on the road and a bit of rocks on the way to the saddle. |
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3/12/2023 Route: South Slope Posted On: 3/13/2023, By: 123tqb Info: It's possible to ski all the way up the line from the trailhead, which is great. We didn't get to see the upper portion of the route (turned around due to avy concerns). |
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2/11/2023 Route: South Slope Posted On: 2/11/2023, By: AndrewJCraigie Info: Great conditions - warm, barely any wind. Not too much snow - snowshoes were only used briefly. Handful of other folks on trail, a few on skis trying to make the most of what snow there was. No signs / worries of avy activity. 7am start 10:30 summit 1pm back at car |
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1/22/2023 Route: South Slope Posted On: 1/22/2023, By: Logan5280 Info: Climbed up the southwest ridge and skied down the south slopes on 1/22 with AlessiaAscents. We had absolutely splitter weather (warm and windless) and a surprisingly good ski descent. The road has continuous coverage up to the Dauntless Mine, except for a dry section about half a mile below the summer trailhead, and another section near the summer trailhead. We skinned up to the mine and boot-packed up the dry sections. Around 12.7k, we switched to boot-packing to the summit. The standard summer trail goes up a slope with a gnarly cornice at the top, so we climbed a steep scree field a little to looker's right. Nice ridge walk to the summit from there, with beautiful views of the Sawatch peaks. Given the improving avy forecast, the aspect of the slope, and the rock-solid snow conditions earlier in the day, we decided that a ski descent of the south slopes was reasonable. The soft surface of the snow from all the sun, on top of the concrete snow made for a really enjoyable ski descent. There's continuous snow from the summit to just above the summer trailhead. Near the road, I made a route finding mistake and we ended up in a sort of sketchy gully with a cornice, so make sure to avoid the enticing looking gully on skiers right, 200-300 ft above the road near the summer trailhead. Easy downhill skin back to the car, which finished out an excellent day in the mountains. |
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1/15/2023 Route: Sheridan, Sherman, White Ridge Posted On: 1/15/2023, By: 14er101 Info: Winter Closure --> Peerless --> Sheridan --> Sherman --> White Ridge --> Horseshoe Campground The road was fine up to the winter trailhead, some made it a few hundred yards beyond but it got deep after that. Microspikes were helpful for getting from the Winter Closure up to Peerless, over to Sheridan, and then over to Sherman. Some post-holing, with a few hundred yards below the treeline being terrible, but I did not put on snowshoes (although I had them). Above treeline, it was mostly windblown or hard-packed snow, no need for snowshoes, and traction was not necessary. The route between Sheridan, Sherman, and then White Ridge was pretty easy to follow despite occasional whiteouts. I then descended east off the summit of White Ridge and hooked up with a Forest service road for three miles back to the Horseshoe campground, I would not attempt this without snowshoes. Overall a nice day, with occasional whiteouts, but very little wind, a good day out! |
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1/15/2023 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 1/15/2023, By: Bhaney84 Info: Deep snow on the road just after the winter closure and before the Leavick site. Only microspikes were needed and route was pretty easy to follow. |
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1/15/2023 Route: South Slope Posted On: 1/16/2023, By: tschoenzart Info: White Ridge has very little snow. So avi risk was low. Road to the hike has snow cover. Must park at 11,000 ft where the signs say to park or you will get stuck very shortly thereafter. You cannot drive to the Leavick site and park. Summit had moderately high winds and poor visibility. You can glissade in a number of places on your way back down, but bring an ice axe to stop yourself if you do this. Microspikes worked the whole way down, but you really need floatation in a few spots, especially toward the bottom. |
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1/7/2023 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 1/7/2023, By: Will_E Info: Did a loop of Horseshoe, Sheridan and Sherman today. 4 mile creek rd is easily passible in just about anything, there's not much snow up to the "Park here" point. I branched off the road and followed a ridge that was mostly windblown to Horseshoe, then followed the normal ridges to Sheridan and Sherman. Descended Sherman standard route (ish). I didn't need flotation or traction today, the route was mostly windblown, as usual. |
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11/26/2022 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 11/26/2022, By: tash1919 Info: Hiked Mt Sherman today. 1/2 the trail was dry, other 1/2 was snow packed. Wore spikes the entire day, really only needed them on the hike up to the saddle and on the summit. Only Post holed once right below the saddle. Was able to drive to the gate with no issues, one small section of ice on the road a few miles before upper parking lot but wasn't too bad. |
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11/22/2022 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 11/23/2022, By: MtnChris20 Info: Beautiful day to get out. Only saw one other person. The road was fairly dry and we were able to drive all the way up to the gate. There is one ice patch just below the gate. Traction was good to have, as were poles. There is enough snow to glissade from the Sherman/Sheridan saddle. |
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10/30/2022 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 10/31/2022, By: Balcao2546+ Info: You can drive up to the gate, not much snow on the road. It was a perfect day to summit with nice temperature and with no wind. It would be wise to at least wear microspikes and bring your gaiters to keep your feet dry. |
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10/29/2022 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 10/31/2022, By: nibbler Info: We made it a mile into the hike before turning back. There was more snow than we anticipated (about a foot in some spots). Combining the snow with the loose rock, we decided it was not worth it to continue to the top. Spikes did not help, as the snow was very powdery and mixed with the loose dirt to create large clumps in the spikes. Coming back down was very slippery with the powder and loose rocks - but only took us about 40 minutes to do the mile return. I think the route is still very much doable; but for us, we chose not to risk it. |
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10/16/2022 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 10/16/2022, By: TheBuff66 Info: Hiked 10/16/22. The road to the TH is a bit rocky and bumpy but nothing crazy, and there's no snow on the road. Punch in "Iowa Gulch Trailhead" into Google Maps and it takes you right to it. The trail itself is well defined for the majority of the hike. On the way down it's possible to get slightly off trail but look for cairns and you're good to go. You can't really get lost on this route, just slightly off the defined trail. Route is 95% dry with a few patches of snow on the ridge but walking over/around them is a non-issue, no need for microspikes. Started slightly after 8am on a Sunday and was the second car in the lot, plenty of space available. RT took just over 3 hours with a break at the summit. I would recommend this route for people new to 14ers |
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10/10/2022 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 10/10/2022, By: aholle88 Info: Minimal snow, none of significance. Some small patches of avoidable packed snow up to the ridge, intermittent patches of packed snow on the ridge to summit. Brought spikes and did not feel any need for them. |
