Mt. Sherman as seen from the viewpoint along US-24,south
Mount Sherman from Fairplay
Mount Sherman海拔14,036呎(4,278公尺),是科羅拉多州第46高峰,屬於Mosquito Range;該山大約位在Fairplay 和 Leadville兩市之間,躺臥在另一座14ers Mount Lincoln南邊約8哩處,距其西北的小鎮Leadville約7哩之遙。Mount Sherman 是一座緩坡、沒有陡峭地形、山頂又很寬廣平坦的山岳,加上它的連稜也有幾座高度相近的高山,所以遠看很難分辨出來。也因為它的緩坡易爬,大部分有意征服14ers的登山客都把這座山當作入門山岳。
攀登Mount Sherman 較常走的路線有兩條,各有其特色。通常一般登山客都是從東邊經小鎮Fairplay,走 Fourmile Creek Trailhead,即所謂Southwest Ridge Route,從此登山口起登沿途會經過幾個老礦區,全程約2.7哩(4.32公里,單程),爬升高度約2,100呎(640公尺),攀登等級Class 2;另一條路線是從西邊經小鎮Leadville走Iowa Gulch Trailhead,即所謂West Slopes Route,全程約2.25哩(3.6公里,單程),爬升高度約2,100呎(640公尺),攀登等級Class 2。兩條路線交會於距山頂約一哩處之Mount Sherman南稜,然後沿著維護良好的小徑直達山頂。從Mount Sherman往北走可順登Gemini Peak(13,951呎)和Dyer Mountain(13,855呎),往南則可攀登Mount Sheridan(13,748呎),這幾座山都是蠻有名的13ers。
繼上週六爬完Mount Massive後,帶著女兒怡如和小外孫信恆Matthew來爬此座較簡單的14ers,Matthew剛滿7歲,這是他的第一座14ers。我們當天凌晨四點多從家裡出發,走US 285公路,經Fairplay到 Fourmile Creek Trailhead,我們計劃走Southwest Ridge Route上山。
06:40 抵登山口Fourmile Creek Trailhead,海拔12,000呎(3,658公尺) ,好冷,約攝氏5度左右,怡如冷的直發抖。
Trailhead(below Dauntless Mine)
06:50 登山口出發。先經過一座鐵柵門,後沿步道緩上,不久到一礦區Dauntless Mine,海拔約12,300呎,整座Sherman呈現眼前,繞過礦區續行。
Mt. Sherman(Taken from just above Dauntless Mine)
Hiking route
07:18 抵一水塘海拔約12,500呎,怡如和信恆Matthew取右直攻Mount Sherman,我則取左先登Mount Sheridan。
一般登山客來此主要是攀登Sherman,甚少攀登Sheridan,所以Sherman的步道清晰好走,而Sheridan則沒有步道可行,只有朝山頂抓住目標,自尋路徑上登。由於一路不是亂石堆就是碎石坡,走來甚是費力,不到400公尺 的爬坡竟費了50分鐘,且爬得上氣不接下氣。
08:08 登頂Sheridan,海拔13,748呎。Sheridan的山頂成東西長條形長廊,山頂展望極佳。
On the Sheridan's summit(Mount Elbert & Massive are in the background)
On the Sheridan's summit(Mount Sherman is in the background)
The East summit of Sheridam
The west summit of Sheridan
遠眺科羅拉多第一、第二高峰Mount Elbert和Mount Massive並立西方,這兩座高山分別在7月14日和三天前去攀登過,現在看起來備感親切。
Looking towards the Sawatch Range from Sheridan's summit.Elbert and Massive dominate the view
Twin Lakes from Sheridan
觀光小鎮Leadville則在西北方不遠處,北邊那寬平似龍背的山脊即是Mount Sherman。
Looking towards Leadville from Sheridan's summit.Mt. of the Holy Cross is in the distance right
Mt. Sherman (Taken from the summit of Mt. Sheridan)
08:20 下山,循Sheridan的北面山坡而下。
08:40 下到Sherman和Sheridan間的鞍部,此地海拔13,140呎。怡如和Matthew就在不遠的往Sherman山頂的山坡上。
Mt. Sheridan(Taken from the saddle)
Mt Sherman,Summit Ridge
Mt. Sherman(Taken from the saddle)
Iowa Gulch(Taken from the saddle)
09:10 趕上怡如和Matthew,Matthew看起來狀況還不錯,接下來便祖孫三人同行,登山小徑沿著Sherman的南稜而上。
Don't give up ! Baby.
Ruth and Matthew ascends the SE slopes of Sherman
Ascending Sherman's south ridge
Narrow ridge near the summit
Yes you can play football on the Mt Sherman summit
10:15 抵達真正的山頂,海拔14,036呎(4,278公尺)。
Sherman的山頂就像好幾個足球場般寬敞平坦,展望一級棒,Tenmile and Mosquito Ranges、Sawatch Range、和Front Range的14ers不下十幾座在此盡收眼底。祖孫三人就在此一邊用餐一邊賞景。
The broad summit of Mt. Sherman(toward south)
The broad summit of Mt. Sherman(toward north)
Looking east from the summit of Mt. Sherman(White ridge)
Dyer Mt.& Gemini peak from the south ridge of Sherman
The north ridge of Sherman, Gemini Peak are behine
Looking NE from the summit of Mt. Sherman
View from Mt. Sherman's summit (North)
Looking towards the Sawatch Range from Sherman's summit.
11:00 下山
Descending Sherman's south ridge
Descending Sherman's south ridge
Descending the last boulder terrain
Hilltop Mine and Mt. Sheridan
Dauntless Mine and Fourmile Creek Trail, Sheep Mt. in the background
13:10 回到登山口,Matthew也驕傲的完成他的第一座14ers。倒是他媽媽--勉強撐到登山口。
Almost finish this hike, I'm proud of Myself !
Oh , My God ! How great hike !
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