Mount Sherman

Distance: 5.41 miles
Ascent: 2,091 feet
Top Elevation: 14,036 feet
Route: Southwest ridge from Four Mile Creek
Directions: H24 to H9 toward Fairplay. South on H285 and an immediate right on CR18. The closer you park to the gate at the end of this road the shorter your hike will be.

Description: Another early start and the three of us were out the door. Today's plan? Get the six year old up a 14er! It looks like there may be a fairly short window this year for getting around the high country, so taking advantage of the opportunity as best we can. After having seen how many kids were attempting Bierstadt a few weeks ago, I started researching what was considered to be the "easiest" mountains out there. Relative term for certain, but after seeing Seamus jog up to Hanging Lake last week I was curious. After all, we need to be as prepared to retreat as much as we are to summit everytime we go out.

Due to its ease, this can be a popular weekend mountain. We were one of the first half dozen to arrive, but others quickly began to fill in the spots along the road behind us. We ran into our first obstacle before ever leaving the Jeep. Apparently the lid on the water jug was not secure and Gretchen found that her boots had decided to take a bath on our drive out.  Asked how she fared, but think she is not telling me, and just muscled through it.

The path starts up an old road toward the Dauntless Mine.  In fact the trail passes several ruins of mining operations, some of which were operational into the 30's extracting zinc.  Easy trail, at least until you reach the snow field.  Not that it was really difficult, but seemed to be the indicator to Seamus that we were doing something out of the ordinary with the slick conditions.  Did I mention that we had "forgotten" to tell him that we were hiking a 14er to him?  Not trying to be cruel, but did not want him to paint an overwhelming picture in his mind before we even started.  We did get to see someone glissade down the snow field before starting our ascent, so I think that helped show that what we were doing was fun. 

I think it was in the main saddle, atop the snow field, that he figured out what we were doing.  We had managed to get to this point by pointing out spots along the way where we would take a break and enjoy some snacks.  Our pace allowed many hikers to pass us, and several would stop to compliment Seamus on his bravery and endurance.  I think in the end that's what gave it away.  Also want to mention that I think his presence deflated the sense of accomplishment from a hand full of others.

After the saddle was the real first steep ascent, and it was just over 13k feet that we began to lose him.  I think it was the combination of getting tired, lack of oxygen, and sensation of simply being that high up.  We found a flat spot in the Talus to hunker down while Gretchen went for the summit.  During her absence I was able to coax him a little farther up, just to the bottom of the false summit.  I sprawled out behind a wind wall and he began building himself a nest out of the rock.  As hikers ascended and descended I would ask him to look at the people along the trail above us, in hopes that he would get a bit more comfortable and we could do a few more hundred feet.  No luck.  13,685 feet was the benchmark.  Can't help but think that a couple who had also decided to stop at this point were part of that decision.  To put it mildly they were wildly unprepared for this hike, and I don't mean lacking in shiny new equipment.  The constant complaints about their physical condition, the terrain, how they could not possibly continue on, and having to wait for their companions to return from the top were not helping me convince the boy to continue up.  Couldn't really fight the notion that I was asking him to do something he was uncomfortable with when a couple adults could not do it themselves.  In retrospect I cant blame them, they were just a bit loud about finding their limits.  Can not express enough how proud I am of our son for making it as far as he did, and know it wont be the last attempt.

Gretchen returned from the summit and I jumped up, grabbed my bag and started my climb.  We decided to meet again farther down in the main saddle.  After the false summit the trail walks along a short spine.  If the boy was already having trouble with the height we were at, this would have been difficult.  Still class 2 for sure, but not being comfortable with heights myself I'll admit that I get a bit wobbly with narrow trails along the top.  After this short stretch, Sherman has a nice wide flat top.  Easy last stroll to the summit log and a few pictures before descending.

Caught up to the family where we planned and started back down through the snow.  The sun had made it a bit more sloppy, but after a few slips and slides we made it back through. The dark clouds rolling in behind the mountain forced our pace slightly, but we had planned well and returned to the Jeep dry.  It never ceases to amaze me at how many people will start late and walk into obvious storms even on trails at much lower altitudes, but to underestimate these mountains is just natural selection.

We drove down a bit and found a campsite just off the road to sit and have lunch by the water.  Fired up the newly acquired Jet Boil for a hot meal and some coffee.  Great trip, even more so to have had the boy along two weeks in a row now.  Think a little backpacking trip into Lost Creek is on agenda for our next adventure weekend!