Mt. Sherman

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/5/2014, By: Nelson
Info: There has been decent freeze the last couple of nights. Today you could do the whole thing without snowshoes or crampons or ax. This presumes an early start. The south slopes looked pretty thin. I am not sure there is a continuous line to ski or climb. 

Route: South Slope
Posted On: 5/4/2014, By: jladderud
Info: My buddy and I had a 7am start from the end of the plowed road. Don‘t be tempted to drive up the road as we saw both a Jeep and an Explorer stuck in the snow when returning to our car later in the day. No snowshoes or traction required for us, though we were post-holing a bit the last mile on our way back at around 11:30. VERY windy towards the summit (to the point of blowing us over); but at least it wasn‘t bitterly cold. Saw a couple of cornices off to the left; but the avalanche danger seemed minimal along the South Slope route. All told it was a 4.5 hour round trip for us (2 young men in our mid-20s). Photo #1: Looking southwest towards Mt. Sheridan on the way to the summit Photo #2: View from the summit 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 3/1/2014, By: sstratta
Info: Parked at the CR2/dirt road intersection (not drivable past this point) and were able to skin up to around 13,000' before it got too rocky/wind-swept. No avalanche danger right now on this route if you follow the standard west slopes route (though that might change after this current storm). We put our skis on our packs around 13,000' and angled up towards Sherman's SW ridge. Around 13,500' we decided to ditch our packs since the wind was so bad that the skis on our packs were acting as wind sails and throwing us around everywhere. Despite the awesome sunny weather and relatively mild temperatures all day, the wind was so bad that at times we had to crawl and had serious doubts as to whether we'd be able to summit (plus we had 2 dogs with us...although they seemed to handle the wind better than we did!). Once you get to around 13,800' on the ridge there is more snow, and a ski descent from the summit would be feasible, though you'd have to take off your skis for the bare section between 13,000' and 13,800'. 

Route: South Slope
Posted On: 1/26/2014, By: Tony1
Info: The access road to Sherman has a very packed trail, easily hiked without snowshoes. We turned off shortly before where the route description suggests to be able to use mostly dry ground on the way up. The largest drainage on the right of the road has a cornice at the top; I suggest going around that drainage by staying higher rather than lower. The snow on the way up the wide south slope "gully" was good and not deep. I highly suggest microspikes (or crampons if you want to carry them) since some of it has solidified and is slick. However, you can also stick to just mostly rock on the way up this as well. We cut over to Gemini too and it was almost completely dry the whole way. I also included a picture of Sheridan for those who may want to attempt it. As of the date of this report, it looked possible to hike pretty much completely dry. 

Route: South Slope
Posted On: 1/4/2014, By: d_baker
Info: Winter trailhead (~1/2 mile below Leavick Mine) is recommended. Used snowshoes from car until reaching the S/SW windswept face of White Ridge. This face leads to saddle between Sherman & White Ridge. In the past, I‘ve hiked up the road until near the gate and then turn to the N (right turn off the road) to find the safest slopes. However, on this hike we turned off the road ~1/4 mile before the gate, around 11,800‘ contour. On TOPO!, I can see the CR 18 symbol near the turnoff. It‘s a flat area and signs of campers‘ use in the past. From this turnoff, we went to the E (right) of a line of trees to stay on mellow terrain. Some trail breaking was necessary but was not unreasonable. The pictures attached have approximate routes shown in green. 1st: looking up through the trees near our turnoff 2nd: above trees on bench (~12,200‘), looking down at our route from road 3rd: another view of lower route 4th: on descent, our tracks leading to S/SW face of windblown saddle route is fairly obvious 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 11/27/2013, By: rlaur001
Info: Overall, pretty good conditions. I drive a Subaru Impreza and on stock tires I was able to drive all the way to 11,100‘ or so (and parked in a small pullout). Only one section before then had some extra snow that made driving through it more challenging (but still possible). Nice hiking conditions along the road. Along the ridge, the snow was deeper and we sunk in more, but no serious postholing. The final approach to the summit (where it is nice and flat) had wonderful hard packed snow, which made the going very easy. I recommend some form of traction (I used Yaktrax) and gaiters. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 11/23/2013, By: BrentRichter
Info: 6-12" of snow all along the route to 13k ft (to the ridge/saddle), snowshoes required; thereafter bare rock to a few inches of snow on most of the route to the summit with occasional annoying drifts, no more than 12" deep. Micros pikes are helpful. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 11/11/2013, By: LizWeiss
Info: The road up to the gate was mostly clear, and any 4wd vehicle should be able to drive up to it. There is one (seriously only one) ice sheet at the gate that you need traction for, but after that there is intermittent snow on the trail. We barely post-holed thanks to other hikers from previous days, and after the ice sheet we did not take our microspikes out again. Maybe 6 inches of snow at the most in some areas. Windy as hell at the top and on the ridge line down to the saddle between Sheridan and Sherman. We also climbed Gemini Peak, which was snow-free. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/27/2013, By: bhess86
Info: Some snow on the saddle and on the quarter mile ridge over to the real summit. I used gaitors but left the microspikes in my bag. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/2/2013, By: MountainHiker
Info: Some avoidable snow on the road below Hilltop Mine. Snow covers some of the trail that switchbacks up to the saddle. The snow was soft with a foot track / steps. No snow issues above the saddle. I used a pole but the MicroSpikes stayed in the pack. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/25/2013, By: brianlpowers
Info: Peak conditions were very good today. We camped the night at the nearby campground, and began our climb at 6:25AM, summited around 9AM. Minimal snow cover, the trail was easily followed. VERY windy on the descent (every bit if not more of the 60 MPH forecasted winds). Thankfully, it was very sunny and beautiful weather other than the wind. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/14/2013, By: forbins_mtn
Info: Sherman is good to go. No rain/washout/drainage/TH issues. Frost and snow on the upper portion of the ridge leading the summit, but nothing substantial that would be cause for concern. We started at 5a, back to the car 830-9ish. Clouds were coming in, but this is a peak can be easily tackled in short windows of clear weather. PM me if anyone wants any pictures of the upper ridge. Shouldn‘t be anything that sticks around though 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 7/8/2013, By: theMickster
Info: The climb was rather windy due to storms moving in all weekend, but once we reached the homestretch the wind was almost non-existent. We summited about 11:30 am with about 20-25 other people along the way. The snow along the last 1/4 mile is avoidable and you don‘t need anything more than good trail runners to summit for the foreseeable future. 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 6/26/2013, By: trudginalong
Info: Depart @ 6:45, summit @ 9:15 (with my 5 y/o son). Back to car @ 11. Lower trail almost 100% clear. Small snow sections (less than 5) all avoidable if desired but easily crossed. From saddle to summit, almost 100% clear, but all snow is avoidable. Snow on summit, but clear in the wind shelters. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/22/2013, By: wcropp
Info: Departed TH 0830. @ ~13 snowfield pack on slope below Sheridan-Sherman saddle - kick-step no need for spikes but brought them just in case (great glissade for descent) southwest ridge to summit - avoidable pack in areas.