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- Oct 30, 2016
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- 955
Had some fun with my friend Matt hiking up Mt Sherman Saturday. The hike is less than 4.5 miles roundtrip so not a whole lot to write about, but it's good clean outdoor fun and some nice scenery so I thought I'd drop a few more pics and a vid link:
Matt and I. Getting my money's worth out of the ghost whisperer. This was Matt's first attempt at a 14er.
![IMG_4614.jpg IMG_4614.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58196-a0c713a6b041040ee3fbbefff01e6422.jpg)
Snowy from the start. Iowa Gulch trailhead sits at 12000 ft.
![IMG_4622.jpg IMG_4622.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58197-58e2f873a6dbb25433c1ef1dc2c58dfa.jpg)
A headwall of cliffs east of the trail.
![IMG_4623.jpg IMG_4623.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58198-4c9cab28010e63ac204b66b053666648.jpg)
You say daunting, I say 'shortcut!'. This was a bit of off-trail misadventure that cost us an hour of a time and some wasted energy and probably kept Matt from summit'ing, though he doesn't think it made the difference. I took this near to the top of a climb to what looked like a notch that would save us a lot of talus hiking - but alas the notch was too icy to climb without any protection, so we had to down climb back to the trail.
![IMG_4632.jpg IMG_4632.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58199-f9fbb5e07f16d7f2cd49aba5e68377fa.jpg)
Back on trail and rounding the bend up in to the gully that separates Mt Sherman and its 13er mate, Mt Sheridan.
![IMG_4645.jpg IMG_4645.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58200-9b432a545dc158071cfb0807bf86e6b7.jpg)
Winds started to pick up and clouds started blowing in. Felt very much like winter had arrived when we reached the saddle between the two peaks.
![IMG_4659.jpg IMG_4659.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58201-36bdd2953ea0dc8ca4e1d14243bf3247.jpg)
I waited (hid) behind this cairn while Matt climbed up the slope. At this point he decided to throw in the towel and come back for Sherman after a winter of training. With 3/4 mile, 800 vertical feet to go I figured I'd take a run at it even though I was starting to worry about the wind.
![IMG_4667.jpg IMG_4667.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58202-a6ba2073429456b49be7ef554aeec76c.jpg)
This ridge line was my cause for concern with the high winds, but there's only a couple really exposed spots and the rest has enough rubble piled up to keep you from getting blown off the edge.
![IMG_4684.jpg IMG_4684.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58203-e77864ba9007e7eaa34ec19b874855e5.jpg)
In case you were wondering, I survived! Fifth 14er in the bag - Mt Sherman, 14,036 ft.
![IMG_4699.jpg IMG_4699.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58204-743e236cb4aae8254351e36f6a4aa5cd.jpg)
So, so, so cold and windy. Thankfully my camera survived getting blown over and falling on to the rocks and ice. Here's a view around the summit:
![IMG_4702.jpg IMG_4702.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58205-7f00ab3da76624a30a3df87d6edee776.jpg)
![IMG_4704.jpg IMG_4704.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58206-a18572ae86a510d3b820b4e4397b860e.jpg)
![IMG_4709.jpg IMG_4709.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58207-dc52ac6111324cbab3db29fca73733a7.jpg)
![IMG_4713.jpg IMG_4713.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58208-810382aa918d32ddc632d10e4d751255.jpg)
Time to hike back, grab Matt, hit up PB in Leadville for some Oktoberfest wurst and beers.
![IMG_4740.jpg IMG_4740.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58209-4de44bf9ad56f970dcc6b5459bca7b1c.jpg)
Trip vid here:
Matt and I. Getting my money's worth out of the ghost whisperer. This was Matt's first attempt at a 14er.
![IMG_4614.jpg IMG_4614.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58196-a0c713a6b041040ee3fbbefff01e6422.jpg)
Snowy from the start. Iowa Gulch trailhead sits at 12000 ft.
![IMG_4622.jpg IMG_4622.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58197-58e2f873a6dbb25433c1ef1dc2c58dfa.jpg)
A headwall of cliffs east of the trail.
![IMG_4623.jpg IMG_4623.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58198-4c9cab28010e63ac204b66b053666648.jpg)
You say daunting, I say 'shortcut!'. This was a bit of off-trail misadventure that cost us an hour of a time and some wasted energy and probably kept Matt from summit'ing, though he doesn't think it made the difference. I took this near to the top of a climb to what looked like a notch that would save us a lot of talus hiking - but alas the notch was too icy to climb without any protection, so we had to down climb back to the trail.
![IMG_4632.jpg IMG_4632.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58199-f9fbb5e07f16d7f2cd49aba5e68377fa.jpg)
Back on trail and rounding the bend up in to the gully that separates Mt Sherman and its 13er mate, Mt Sheridan.
![IMG_4645.jpg IMG_4645.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58200-9b432a545dc158071cfb0807bf86e6b7.jpg)
Winds started to pick up and clouds started blowing in. Felt very much like winter had arrived when we reached the saddle between the two peaks.
![IMG_4659.jpg IMG_4659.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58201-36bdd2953ea0dc8ca4e1d14243bf3247.jpg)
I waited (hid) behind this cairn while Matt climbed up the slope. At this point he decided to throw in the towel and come back for Sherman after a winter of training. With 3/4 mile, 800 vertical feet to go I figured I'd take a run at it even though I was starting to worry about the wind.
![IMG_4667.jpg IMG_4667.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58202-a6ba2073429456b49be7ef554aeec76c.jpg)
This ridge line was my cause for concern with the high winds, but there's only a couple really exposed spots and the rest has enough rubble piled up to keep you from getting blown off the edge.
![IMG_4684.jpg IMG_4684.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58203-e77864ba9007e7eaa34ec19b874855e5.jpg)
In case you were wondering, I survived! Fifth 14er in the bag - Mt Sherman, 14,036 ft.
![IMG_4699.jpg IMG_4699.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58204-743e236cb4aae8254351e36f6a4aa5cd.jpg)
So, so, so cold and windy. Thankfully my camera survived getting blown over and falling on to the rocks and ice. Here's a view around the summit:
![IMG_4702.jpg IMG_4702.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58205-7f00ab3da76624a30a3df87d6edee776.jpg)
![IMG_4704.jpg IMG_4704.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58206-a18572ae86a510d3b820b4e4397b860e.jpg)
![IMG_4709.jpg IMG_4709.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58207-dc52ac6111324cbab3db29fca73733a7.jpg)
![IMG_4713.jpg IMG_4713.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58208-810382aa918d32ddc632d10e4d751255.jpg)
Time to hike back, grab Matt, hit up PB in Leadville for some Oktoberfest wurst and beers.
![IMG_4740.jpg IMG_4740.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/58/58209-4de44bf9ad56f970dcc6b5459bca7b1c.jpg)
Trip vid here: