Trip Report
Lingering on Mt Sherman
By Nick Woodland |
September 25, 2018
My kids taught me a valuable lesson on this day about journey before destination. You could say it's my way to explain why we didn't reach the summit with some vague metaphysical ramblings about the real value we get from being outside in any way, not just climbing mountains...and, well you'd be right!
I roused the girls at 4am and we were in the car in no time. Wendy waved us off and went back inside and snuggled under the covers while we zoomed off into the pre-dawn night. We reached the Fourmile Creek Rd outside of Fairplay in about an hour and then the adventure began. The road is rough and narrow. It passes an old abandoned mine building that practically hangs over the road. I pointed it out to the girls and between the darkness, the ominous building and the sparkling stars they were pretty impressed. Score for Dad.
I had been wanting to get them up a 14er for some time. Why exactly though, I'm not sure. 14ers are awesome? Climbing mountains is badass? Posting pictures of my young kids on a 14er would be sick? It's good for them? Truthfully, I wanted to challenge them and share the mountains with them. I wanted them to experience what I do and see how amazing a sunrise can be on a cold, fall day at altitude. I wanted them to work hard for something worthwhile. I wanted them to soak in the silence and serenity so abundant in the mountains. And, let's be honest I wanted them to experience the reward of reaching a summit and be able to say, 'I did it!'.
Getting dressed in the car before plunging into the cold September darkness. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
Watching the sky lighten from 12,000' - an experience worth the hassle alone. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
Sienna taking in the endless views. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
Ava playing sentinel to the world. Cars coming up the road in the distance. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
The beginning of the hike was hard, and cold. I think they were stunned by the temperature, and the altitude and the incline of the road, and the lack of trees. Put it all together and the jolt from warm bed to cold, barren, high-altitude tundra was shocking. It took a while to settle in, but they did and we found a rhythm after a while. Slower than I would have liked, I was constantly playing drill sergeant, on your feet, let's go, a little faster, keep moving, stop stopping. And so on. It was at the point in the hike when I was sure we would reach the summit, and there was no other point to this outing. Thankfully, that slowly began to change.
Ava finding her inner mountain spirit high on Mount Sherman, with Mount Sheridan getting the sun. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
Steady climbing up windswept roads. It is not the best hike considering it's all on old mining roads. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
Finally we meet the sunshine and thaw ourselves in its glow. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
We find a Pika which we name George Washington for reasons unknown. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
All adventures sponsored by Haribo. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
Endless fascination watching this pika scramble around. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
The broad saddle between Mt. Sherman and Sheridan at 13,000'. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
We reached the wide open saddle between Sherman and Sheridan after a couple tough hours. The girls were happy to take a break in a cool rock garden with big slabs set up to provide wind breaks. Sherman still loomed a mile distant and 1000' higher. It looked daunting given our pace and our stamina. The girls were tired but I thought we could do it.
However, on the way up I had been asking myself if I wanted to keep pushing and pushing and pushing them. Or if they wanted that. Would they have more fun if I just let them decide what to do, gave them the choice, instead of making it for them? Wasn't this supposed to be fun? It was that thought that made me realize the stark difference between what I get and want out of the mountains and what my kids probably want. They just want to have fun. They're kids!
So I told them to look up at Sherman and I went on about how awesome it would feel to be able to go home and say we climbed that, to say we pushed through our tiredness and soreness to make it to the top. I stressed the importance of grit and perseverance. And then I asked them if they wanted to go up, or back down. Back down! And so it was.
Heading down from the saddle, with a blue sky that only Colorado can deliver. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
The top of an elaborate trolley system carrying silver ore off the mountain. They are laughing at how enthusiastic I am about his mining junk. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
Lots of fun discarded equipment to climb around in. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
So many cool rocks to be found. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
We had a blast on the way down. Them, knowing they didn't have to trudge up this mountain anymore; me, knowing that I had done the right thing and let go of the single-mindedness of just the summit.
We explored everything and took a different route down. One section was very steep and we had to use all fours to keep from falling through the rock gardens. The abandoned mining facilities provided endless fascination and not a little awe at the hardiness of those who built such structures in such locations. We found cool rocks and searched for more. We found tiny flowers hidden amongst the boulders that we never noticed before in our march for the summit.
In short, we immersed ourselves in our surroundings and the girls taught me to linger and love, versus challenge and conquer. I owe them for that.
Almost back to the car looking up at the desolate landscape of Mount Sherman. All Photos: © Nick Woodland
Thanks for reading!
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