#4 Mt. Sherman: The Start of Summer
#4 Mt. Sherman
The summer had begun. I completed junior year of college, started
a new job and was eager to begin my first summer mission - solo. Coming off my
first “big” ski season, I felt physically prepared, but under prepared
with equipment. The forecast was outstanding - bluebird and sunny;
however, I was concerned with a big snowfield that I’d might have to posthole
through.
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| Mt. Sherman - June 2021 |
I was stoked! I was feeling light and nimble after leaving my ski gear at home; however, my next challenge was using my five-year-old Nike running shoes to climb this mountain with snow. I was preparing for the worst postholes of my life or for the possibility of sliding down the mountain unable to self-arrest with my pole. Oh yea? Have I mentioned that I did not own climbing pants yet? I was rocking high ski socks, shorts and trekking poles. I felt like a euro trail runner in shorts.
I parked at 11,000’, after a slow drive down the bumpy dirt road, and began my charge up the mountain.
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| The view looking back on the road to the trailhead. I parked just around the bend. |
I was over prepared mentally for what was ahead. I passed two groups on the initial climb up into the upper basin. I was roughly 15 minutes in before I hit my first snow crossing.
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| The snowfields that lied ahead |
My first step in, I went straight to my knee. I repeated the action and went to my ankle. I thought the next 15 steps were going to be a nightmare, but to my surprise the small refreeze after my second step was able to hold my body weight. I carefully scurried a crossed and was on my way.
I made it to the upper basin after another short 400-foot steep hill climb, sheded a layer and planned my route up to the ridge. To the left (the actual trail), lead to a long snow crossing that was already baking in the sun. I said, “screw it” and went right instead to a path that I was estimating to be around 10 steps. I quickly arrived to the frozen over foot holes of my peers. I weighted my poles and carefully placed each foot to match the existing foot step.
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| The snow crossing |
I gingerly crossed this snow hoping that my Nikes would not cause me to take a 500 foot slide into the rocks below. Afterward was not much better, it was thick loose gravel until I gained the ridge.
It was smooth sailing once I gained the ridge.
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| View of the remaining ridge to the summit |
The views of the summit were decent. I thought the views off of Castle Peak were far superior.
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| Views to the north of the Mosquito/Tenmile range |
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| Views to the west of the the Sawatch range and of Leadville. |
After I soaked in the views, I remembered that I had to walk down. I was not very excited to start my descent on foot. I ended up jogging at times. I contemplating glissading down the snowfields, but did not bring an ice axe to control my speed. I ended up shoe-skiing as much as I could.
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| The view back down the ridge. |
I made it down relatively quickly, just stopping a few times to take some photos of the abandoned mines.
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| The abandoned mining shack reminded me of the morning of Democrat - glad this time I had day light on my side. |
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| Another photo of the mine with the valley below |
Good Work! Sounds like a real adventure!!
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