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| Fourmile Creek   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Colorado, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 39.22500°N / 106.1692°W Route Type: Hike Time Required: Half a day Difficulty: Walk-up
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| Page By: Brad Snider Created/Edited: Oct 20, 2004 / Mar 16, 2005 Object ID: 162562 Hits: 2330 Loading... Page Score: 84.8% - 6 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Overview
The hike to Mount Sherman's summit from the Fourmile Creek Trailhead is considered by many to be one of the easiest routes to a summit of any fourteener in Colorado. This is Mount Sherman's standard route, and the route recommended by Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, because "use of this route will help to reduce impacts to this Fourteener's fragile alpine environment."
Distance, round-trip: 8.0 miles (only 3.0 miles from 4WD parking)
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet (1,500 feet from 4WD parking)
Note: Do not be fooled! Just because this may be an "easy" route by Colorado standards, does not mean you can take it for granted that you are heading to 14,000 feet. Weather can turn any good day into a bad day quickly, especially at higher elevations. In fact, the first time I tried this route, I was turned back by a Memorial Day snow-storm. Always start early, be aware of the weather forecast, and prepare for the worst.
Approach
Start from the Fourmile Creek Trailhead, as described on the Mount Sherman Main Page, HERE. The trailhead and camping area at 11,240 feet can be accessed with any passenger vehicle. If you have a 4WD vehicle, you can shave 2.5 miles and another 500 feet of elevation off your hike by continuing up the rougher road to where it is gated off, just below the Dauntless Mine.
Route Description
Continue walking up the dirt/stone road on which you parked. Shortly you will pass the Dauntless and Hilltop Mines, where there are some interesting old mining buildings. Mount Sheridan is on your left (southwest); Mount Sherman is on your right (northeast). Do not be confused by all the mining roads, but continue straight up the hill to the 13,140-foot saddle between those two mountains. Once on the saddle, follow the trail to the right (northeast) along the crest of the ridge to Mount Sherman's summit. This is a pleasant hike most anybody in good shape can do, and it is not far from the cities of the Front Range.
Other mountains you might consider climbing while parked at the Fourmile Creek Trailhead:
Horseshoe Mountain - 13,898 feet
Mount Sheridan - 13,748 feet
Gemini Peak - 13,951 feet
Essential Gear
Common Sense.
Images
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Mosquito Range
