Mt. Sherman Trip Report 06/10/2008

Peak(s):	Mt. Sherman - 14,043 feet
Date Posted:	06/10/2008
Date Climbed:	06/07/2008
Author:	emcee smith

Sherman on Saturday - What a difference a day makes
Date: 06/07/08 Start: 8:30 am - 11,700' parking area Summit: Approx 11:30 am Return: 12:30 pm Routes: Southwest Ridge ascent (w/ variation) South Slope descent Route Map (red-ascent, blue-descent, green-near standard route) It is interesting for me to look at our pictures in relation to the TR's from Sunday. Other than the wind, Saturday was a bluebird day, I don't think we saw our first cloud until noon. I met fellow 14ers.com Don Eberl at the parking area at 11,700' at approximately 8am. We geared up and took off, walking up the road. Shot from below the parking area showing the initial road up There were a few snowfields to cross as we made our way up to the hilltop mine. The snow was well compacted. View from below first mine site, with snowfield covering the road. The next two photos show most of the people veering off to the north to avoid the snowfield in the saddle. Also, most people were heading up to the saddle between Sherman and the White Ridge; Don and I went up the snow free gully on the left side of the first photo Heading up to the gully Standard route showing the snowfield and the cornice The third photo was taken on the descent and unfortunately is the best one I got showing the snow between the Hilltop mine and the saddle. Looking directly at it from the mine, the snowfield looked intimidating (again, most people were detouring to the north). However, from the gully looking across, it looked like a manageable snow walk if it were solid. Going up the gully was surprisingly easier than I thought. The dirt trail was much more solid than I expected; not nearly as much slipping back. By the top of the gully, we were much more exposed to the wind. I thought this photo was interesting, noting that the dog's fur shows the wind speed better than I could describe. The ridge was very windy, Don had snowshoes strapped to his pack, and there were times that he really had to stay low to keep centered. Aside from the wind, the ridge up to the summit would have been very fun. The trail was very easy to follow, as shown in the following photos. It was pretty cool that you could stay a bit to the right and go up and over some of the rocks and get a little more exposure. A few hundred feet below the summit, it became easier to walk up on the snow. Summit shot and photo of Massive to the west. We didn't stay on the summit long due to the winds, and had decided on our ascent to take the direct route down to the east (Bill's South slope snow route). We made very good time down the snowfields, which were surprisingly solid until the very bottom Photo showing some of the route back through the snow. I enjoyed this hike tremendously. I think of the general easy/first 14ers, this one would top my list as a good first hike, as it seems to have it all: easy hike, fun ridge, and good views of the mines. Coming down on the snow made the hike significantly easier than others that I have done, I couldn't believe how good my knees felt back at the car. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Sherman on Saturday - What a difference a day makes

Date: 06/07/08
Start: 8:30 am - 11,700' parking area
Summit: Approx 11:30 am
Return: 12:30 pm
Routes: Southwest Ridge ascent (w/ variation)
South Slope descent

Route Map (red-ascent, blue-descent, green-near standard route)

It is interesting for me to look at our pictures in relation to the TR's from Sunday. Other than the wind, Saturday was a bluebird day, I don't think we saw our first cloud until noon. I met fellow 14ers.com Don Eberl at the parking area at 11,700' at approximately 8am. We geared up and took off, walking up the road.

Shot from below the parking area showing the initial road up

There were a few snowfields to cross as we made our way up to the hilltop mine. The snow was well compacted.

View from below first mine site, with snowfield covering the road.

The next two photos show most of the people veering off to the north to avoid the snowfield in the saddle. Also, most people were heading up to the saddle between Sherman and the White Ridge; Don and I went up the snow free gully on the left side of the first photo

Heading up to the gully

Standard route showing the snowfield and the cornice

The third photo was taken on the descent and unfortunately is the best one I got showing the snow between the Hilltop mine and the saddle. Looking directly at it from the mine, the snowfield looked intimidating (again, most people were detouring to the north). However, from the gully looking across, it looked like a manageable snow walk if it were solid.

Going up the gully was surprisingly easier than I thought. The dirt trail was much more solid than I expected; not nearly as much slipping back. By the top of the gully, we were much more exposed to the wind.

I thought this photo was interesting, noting that the dog's fur shows the wind speed better than I could describe. The ridge was very windy, Don had snowshoes strapped to his pack, and there were times that he really had to stay low to keep centered. Aside from the wind, the ridge up to the summit would have been very fun. The trail was very easy to follow, as shown in the following photos.

It was pretty cool that you could stay a bit to the right and go up and over some of the rocks and get a little more exposure. A few hundred feet below the summit, it became easier to walk up on the snow.

Summit shot and photo of Massive to the west.

We didn't stay on the summit long due to the winds, and had decided on our ascent to take the direct route down to the east (Bill's South slope snow route). We made very good time down the snowfields, which were surprisingly solid until the very bottom

Photo showing some of the route back through the snow.

I enjoyed this hike tremendously. I think of the general easy/first 14ers, this one would top my list as a good first hike, as it seems to have it all: easy hike, fun ridge, and good views of the mines. Coming down on the snow made the hike significantly easier than others that I have done, I couldn't believe how good my knees felt back at the car.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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