White Ridge

Route: South Couloir
Posted On: 4/29/2025, By: jpacheco1982
Info: Did couloir. Parked at winter closure. Was long approach to apron. Apron was melted out and we started up couloir about 745am. About 2/3 or 1/2 way up couloir was starting to melt out for a short segment, but then filled back in. Overall snow conditions were good. Wasn’t getting much sun at bottom when we started up. Too ridge to Sherman saddle down. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 1/13/2025, By: bigfoot1
Info: Started from Thompson Park Road parking area. First half mile has minimal snow and is tracked out, after that you can follow snowmobile tracks up to ~11.6k ft. Dropped snowshoes a little later than needed at ~12.3k ft. Postholed a little through some wind drifts. 0 avalanche concern, not nearly enough snow. There's a really nice mini cairn/sitting area at 39.21157, -106.13823. Wind was forecasted to be up to 20-25mph, but I was definitely feeling gusts up to 45mph. There was a lot of blowing snow and I summited in a snow cloud with 0 views. Morning snowshoe track already completely filled in with new snow so I didn't bother to make the tracks nice or anything. Finished in scattered snow flurries.. which were also not forecasted. 

Route: from Sherman
Posted On: 6/25/2024, By: mijoflynn
Info: There's a couple of low-angle snowfields hanging around on the east slope below Sherman's summit (pic 1); nothing at all on the way to White Ridge (pic 2). This is less about filling a dire need for a condition update on White Ridge than to celebrate my Mosquito finisher! (Well, except Bartlett . . .) 

Route: South Couloir
Posted On: 5/20/2024, By: rleclair
Info: Full winter conditions on White Ridge South Couloir. Our team did not summit via the couloir as snow conditions were not good. On approach, heard "whoomfing" sounds 7 times on low angled snow (15-20 degrees). Evidence of a large wet slide at the base of the couloir that likely ran down a significant part of the couloir. At the base of the wet slide apron, it scoured to the rock and split snow banks from earlier in the season to the rock layer. Attempted going up the couloir but noticed persistent slab conditions on a weak, crystal faceted layer on the top layers. Crampons were punching through this layer to "junk" layers below. Appears that no consolidation has occurred yet on this couloir. We turned around and headed back to the CO 18 road. 

Route: From Mnt Sherman
Posted On: 10/23/2023, By: Jan van Tilburg
Info: White Ridge from Sherman completely dry. Only just below the Sherman summit on the way down to White Ridge, there were some snow fields, which were easily by passed. (the route to Gemini had no snow or ice as far as I could see) Took me 1hr to get to White Ridge and ca. 1,5hr for the return trip. Total roundtrip mileage according to Gaia is ca. 2,8 mls. 

Route: Via Sherman>Gemini
Posted On: 6/11/2023, By: ncxhjhgvbi
Info: White Ridge not very white anymore, but kept spikes on due to verglas on all the rocks (630am). Pretty stoked on my time up Sherman though (1:20). Looped up Sherman SW ridge, Gemini south and north, contoured the snowfield around the bump to the Sherman/White Ridge Saddle (ice axe used for safety on this side), over to White and back, and down South Slopes. Total was about 7 miles and 2500'. Starting at 415am and getting down by 8am meant the snow was hard the whole time and I was able to move extremely quickly with spikes from the first snowfield on. 

Route: Iowa Gulch
Posted On: 8/15/2022, By: kwhit24
Info: Started from Iowa Gulch and the whole route was straight forward and nothing more than Class 2. When returning from Peerless I just contoured above the grass under Sheridan to the Sherman saddle and returned to the car via the West slopes route. One comment about this descent is that it turns into slick gravel in more than a few spots so it can be tricky if you're trying to move quickly. Met one person on Dyer, 2 going up Sheridan, 3 going to Peerless, and about 50+ on the Sherman route ha (11.39 mi; 4,301' gain; 6:32:47 total time) Start at TH 5:50am; Dyer Mtn 7:00am; Gemini Peak 7:45am; White Ridge 8:50am; Mt. Sherman 9:40am; Mt. Sheridan 10:45am; Peerless Mtn 11:20am; Back to TH 12:25pm 

Route: South Couloir
Posted On: 5/9/2022, By: sodomike
Info: Since I've been pestering everyone about the skiability of these things since the road's been reported open and cleared (which it is, and very dry and in fine driving shape to 12,000')... If you're interested in a 'state of the snowpack' comparison of this year to last year in the Mosquito, here ya go! Both photos taken from the same spot along the road above Leavick. Last year I made it to Leavick after a very slippery and probably too-far-on-snow drive to there where I could turn around. You be the judge...but I deemed this not-skiable. Went up Boudoir instead. Good coverage for skiing/riding. Really easy climb thanks to the booter that's in, other than the relentless 50+ winds today. Mostly great corn despite the winds 

Route: South Couloir
Posted On: 5/1/2021, By: Col_Forbin
Info: Had to unstrap once when descending the south Couloir. Dropped in at 10:15ish, timing was near perfect. Watch out for this mining cable skiers right at the bottom of the line in the trees. I didn't notice it until it was too late and got destroyed. 

Route: South Couloir
Posted On: 4/25/2021, By: jbealer
Info: Road is still closed above the mine/ there is quite a rut of snow traveling the road so a high clearance Vehicles is kind of nice, as is 4wd. We did not use snowshoes and just booted up to the base of the South Couloir, some sinking but not bad. We climbed the climbers right route, crampons and ice axe were a good thing to have. The snow was supportive/ a nice consistent deep layer, but we were kicking in to midshin, took some time with the deep snow pack, the 3 of us took turns leading. Once we gained the ridge (free of snow) we were hit with high winds, quick summit and went back the way we came as it was the quickest exit. Our tracks were almost gone from wind on the descent. Glad we got out today. Will load pics from camera tomorrow. 

Route: South Couloir
Posted On: 4/18/2021, By: bludwig
Info: Couloir is in! Did the whole thing in snowshoes. But went down in just boots just for climbingcue. The top layer of snow is coming off in sheets but the underlayers are nice and firm. Would recommend crampons and maybe skis? The glissades were terrible. It's not letting me upload pictures so let me know if you want any. 

Route: South Couloir
Posted On: 12/6/2020, By: CaptainSuburbia
Info: Parked at gate. Started up standard route. No snowshoes or spikes needed. At the big switchback under Sherman we cut over to South Slopes route and took to ridge and then up to Sherman. Some snow and minor postholing but still no traction needed. Same conditions from Sherman to West Ridge summit. Mostly windblown with some occasional snow drifts to walk through. Went back to Sherman saddle and down South Slopes to gate. On and off postholing here but nothing major. 

Route: East Ridge (From Mount Sherman)
Posted On: 9/9/2018, By: supranihilest
Info: While there's nothing particularly difficult about White Ridge, it is exceptionally long. It will take you quite some time to not only get to the end, which is where the summit is, but to then return to either Sherman's south slopes or to re-ascend Sherman and descend the standard southwest ridge. Think a couple of hours round trip at best, most likely. There are NO safe descents off White Ridge to the south if it is dry. The ONLY safe descents are off routes on Sherman; the south slopes (best with snow cover) or the southwest ridge, which requires a considerable amount of elevation re-gain, potentially eating up a lot of time and/or putting you in a worse position if lightning is a concern. 

Route: South Couloir
Posted On: 5/16/2018, By: Trotter
Info: Couloir completely melted below ~12,300. Above that is holding well. No snow above ~13,400. No steps kicked in, and snow is very solid until the sun hits it at about 9 am. 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 10/8/2016, By: jasayrevt
Info: Also, traversed to West Dyer Mtn (13,047'), Gemini Pk (13,951'), Mt. Sherman (14,036'), Sheridan (13,748'), and Peerless (13,348'). Clear and very nice enjoyable trip w/ reaching summits. Invigorating, Inspiring Hobby. Four Mile Creek County Road 18 Okay. Great, beautiful 13er mountains. This quality, classic route is a unique undertaking and lightly traveled. Incredible views of Mosquito Range Peaks. Prime, excellent, and bluebird fall conditions up high for navigating slopes and ridge line extremely well. Trail runners and light pack were good. Climb safely / swiftly in the hills folks. Pictures included as beta