Mt. Sherman

Route: South Slope
Posted On: 2/2/2025, By: Dan Kearney
Info: Parked around 11,000. Road getting there wasn’t too bad, but there were a few wind drifts you had to gun it through. Used snowshoes on the way up the road. Did not on the way down and thought this was better. The snow was plenty firm. Once off the road, snowshoes were mighty helpful and got me to a point around 12,600 where I left the trail early and went up the W side of White Ridge’s rock scoured gullies. There was a large windslab on Sherman’s SE slope that I didn’t care to continue hiking towards. Left snowshoes at the bottom of this and it was fine. Once up on the ridge it was mostly rock hopping, with a few low angle hardened snow fields I crossed without traction. Had spikes, felt no need for them. Summit cornice is well guarded by rocks on both sides. Took the same route down without issue. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 12/15/2024, By: Briere
Info: I hiked from the 2WD area to the 4WD Summer trailhead. I used snow shoes going up but none going down so I probably didn't need them for my section that I hiked. The winter - south slope route looks like there isn't a packed down trail and the summer route didn't look ideal (snow drifts) either so I turned around. Speaking to someone along the road it sounds like most people in the past week have taken the summer route and turn around on the ridge due to the snow. 

Route: South Slope
Posted On: 12/17/2024, By: deepdarkseas
Info: Successful summit and a beautiful and not too windy day. I wore Lightning Ascent snowshoes the whole day. I left the mining road at the hairpin bend at 12,800' and was able to stay entirely on continuous snow to the summit, except for one or two rocky sections that were no more than 10 paces or so. The snow is wind-blasted and surprisingly consolidated, perfect for the Ascents or other snowshoes with decent crampons, though there are a few sections with looser snow more similar to unbroken trail below treeline. I expect conditions will remain this way until the next major snowfall, which may not be until mid-next week. South slope is definitely the way to go right now to avoid wind and likely more rocky conditions on the standard south ridge. No pictures unfortunately because I lost my phone up there... if by some miracle you do this route and happen to find an iphone 15 pro please DM me. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/23/2024, By: mark-p0021
Info: Perfect weather but breezy. No problem accessing the TH with my Subaru. Much more snow on the upper trail than anticipated. Up to 2 feet in some places. Very little snow had melted from the most recent storm. Should have brought spikes and poles. Snow was beginning to melt on descent causing slushy conditions. Saw a total of 8 people at various times. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/2/2024, By: Krispy
Info: Never have I ever experienced wind like there was on Sherman today. I didn't have a gauge with me, but I'd be shocked if it didn't top out over 60mph, and on the ridge leading up to the false summit it was sustained at those speeds. We actually took shelter just off the ridge a couple times to recover from the barrage, it was nutty. Otherwise was a beautiful day and the trail was totally dry. 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 9/26/2024, By: josephsiefers
Info: Trail has a few patches snow that mostly can easily be avoided except for a few spots high on the ridge, but nothing that difficult to traverse. Might be slushy later in the day. 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 9/23/2024, By: Goldfoxx
Info: Combined Sherman and Sheridan on 9/23/24 from Iowa Gulch TH. A fun mix of fall/winter conditions. I was worried about the snow but it was fabulous: nice stair steps of snow up the steeper section instead of slippery dirt/rocks. On the way down, I kid you not, it was like walking on pillows... my knees are so happy. Sherman got about 5-6" of snow from the storm two days ago. But lots of drifts so some places deeper, especially the final ridge ascent. There was a trail the whole way through the snow so minimal route-finding required (no obvious trail for Sheridan but you just walk straight up). Didn't need spikes; snow was sticky and crunchy. Gaiters, waterproof hiking shoes, and snow baskets on my hiking poles all came in handy. Windier than forecasted so good to have face covering. I got back to my car at 1pm and it had definitely warmed up by then. The lower elevation snow was already getting slushy. And muddy in the first marshy section. I expect conditions will rapidly change as the snow melts with the nice weather this week. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/15/2024, By: Punchy_Blonde
Info: Road to TH was fine, even for for a minivan with horrible clearance. Just watch for the drainage ditch that was exposed and a few boulders laying in the road. Hike was relatively easy. Started 9a, back to vehicle 3.5 hours later. Just over 5 miles. No snow visible on route. Next week might be a different story. 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 9/14/2024, By: 2drinkbehind
Info: Beautiful sunny day, perfect conditions. Light breeze. I think the distance for this route is incorrect as we stuck to the trail, but two different GPSes came back closer to 6 miles round trip. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/5/2024, By: coloradomojo
Info: Climbed Mt Sherman in the clouds and on an inch of graupel from a storm overnight. Imagine it will melt off as soon as the sun hits it. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 8/8/2024, By: bigfoot1
Info: Great conditions, two small patches of snow on the trail 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 8/1/2024, By: dhelder
Info: Walked over maybe 20 feet of snow on the standard route. Picked up this sign that shows a new water-based route? 

Route: Horseshoe -> Dyer Traverse from Fourmile Creek TH
Posted On: 7/28/2024, By: backcountrybrodes
Info: Started at around 4:15, drizzled for 2 hours in the morning but after sunrise on Horseshoe Mtn. the weather cleared up for the rest of the day. 99/100 people I saw were on Mt. Sherman (sounds about right), summer conditions but word to the wise: *don't* walk on the snow bridges that are actually cornices. I did see a line of several foot tracks on one of them. 12.66mi, 5,004ft - completed at a fast hiking/slow trail running pace Start: 4:19am Horseshoe Mtn. summit: 5:56am Mt. Sheridan summit: 6:59am Mt. Sherman summit: 8:17am Dyer Mtn. summit: 9:26am 2nd Mt. Sherman summit: 10:40am End: 11:32am Total time: 7:13:16 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/27/2024, By: Max+Karen2
Info: Arrived at the parking area near the gate at 6:00am and was able to find one of the last parking spaces right at the trailhead, but plenty of close parking down the road. Conditions were excellent, and absolutely perfect at the summit, sunny, no wind and very comfortable in a t-shirt and shorts. Very little smoke from the Canadian fires. Conditions started to cloud up around noon and maybe there was some rain later in the afternoon? Trail was easy to follow and there were a fair amount of other hikers. There were maybe 50 people at the summit when we were there, but plenty of space for all. Some had hiked up from other routes. The trail up went around the one snow crossing, but it was easy to cross if desired. Unfortunately, we did not see any wildlife. This was my second 14er and a great hike! 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/14/2024, By: zackj99
Info: Summer conditions. A single significant snowfield that is completely avoidable. Road is in good condition to the trailhead. Pretty crowded but a gorgeous day for a hike!