| Peak(s): |
Mt. Sherman - 14,043 feet Mt. Sheridan - 13,757 feet Gemini Peak - 13,961 feet Dyer Mountain - 13,861 feet |
| Date Posted: | 07/07/2008 |
| Date Climbed: | 07/05/2008 |
| Author: | thebeave7 |
| Peak(s): |
Mt. Sherman - 14,043 feet Mt. Sheridan - 13,757 feet Gemini Peak - 13,961 feet Dyer Mountain - 13,861 feet |
| Date Posted: | 07/07/2008 |
| Date Climbed: | 07/05/2008 |
| Author: | thebeave7 |
| Iowa Gulch Circuit |
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I arrived at the trailhead late Friday night after watching the fire works over Lake Dillon. The road up Iowa Gulch from Leadville is in good shape and passable to all vehicles. I started off at the modest hour of 710a through the meadows on the use trail that winds the start of the climb. After crossing two small snow patches the trail climbs steeply toward the saddle between Sheridan and Sherman. Just below the saddle I took a hard right on the trail to Sheridan, reaching the summit at 755am, it was clear and windy.  Looking across the valley toward Sheridan.  From the base of Sheridan looking toward Sherman. I trotted down the rocky trail from Sheridan then along the smooth ridge over to Sherman. The trail up Sherman climbs steeply at first, then levels out along the upper ridge. The wind was whipping along the ridge, apparently this is normal. The final climb to the summit flew by and I topped out on the windless summit at 840a ahead of several large groups. Sherman's summit register cap is cracked off and could use to be replaced if anyone feels inclined.  From Sherman's summit looking at Gemini Pt(right) and Dyer Mt(left).  Looking down from Gemini Pt toward Dyer Mt. I took off for Gemini Pk soon after, jogging along the smooth use trail along the ridgeline across the flower laden tundra. Gemini Pt is the furthest pile of rocks along the ridge, requiring a little easy scrambling to reach its summit, at 905a. The use trail peters out as one descends off Gemini Pt to the ridge below. The ridgeline connecting to Dyer is fairly narrow, with the snow recently melting off the ridge there was just a 4ft wide passage. The climb up Dyer is rocky but not technical, and after postholing through one 100ft snowfield I topped out at 935a, finally done heading up! After weaving my way through several small snowfields on Dyer's SE slope I reached the tundra. From the open bowl head toward the electrical tower that sits on the edge of the high meadow. From this tower(seen in photo #6) I traversed diagonally right above the snow heading for the next electrical tower. Once down i was able to follow grass all the way back to the mining road, 1/4mile above the parking area. In all a 3:10 circuit, including 3 peaks over 13700 and one rocky pinnacle. A nice route for anyone looking to tack on a little more to Sherman.  Panorama of the Sawatch range as seen from the Iowa Gulch Rd. http://www.ericjlee.com/Photos/080705%20ShermanHarvColum/Sawatch-Pano.jpg Larger version of the Panorama Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow): 
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