Yesterday I climbed Mount Sherman (14,036') and Gemini Peak (13,981') near Fairplay and Leadville, CO. This was my 18th Colorado fourteener. Sherman is generally considered one of the easiest 14ers to do since you can drive as high as 12,900' if the road is clear and the gate is open. The normal 2WD parking area is at the Leavick Mine, 11,300'. For this trip, there was a lot of snow down low and I couldn't get within a mile of Leavick, so there was a lot more hiking and vertical than normal for this peak. On the summit ridge there was a sustained 40-50mph wind which tested the limits of my gear. My new gaiters and gloves worked great.
I was going to spend another day or two up in CO climbing, but the weather report for today and tomorrrow was not promising so I came home last night. Photo gallery of the climb is here.
After a while these peaks in CO start to look disturbingly alike. The snow cornices on these were nice, and you had some good views, but it was hard to see much about the mountain itself to really recommend it. Are these old mines gold mines? Should be some nice mineralization around them. I guess I am more fond of mountains with a few trees.
Don't think you would have much luck climbing in CA this spring. Sounds as if there is a whole lot of snow and it is still coming.
Hope your weekend is good.
I know what you mean; Sherman belongs to a large group of Colorado mountains which I refer to as the "pile of rocks" style. They are not much fun to climb when there isn't snow. The snow adds a certain variability and uncertainty that makes the climb more mentally intensive. Plus you can glissade down parts that would otherwise be irritatingly steep loose talus descents.
I'm not sure how I feel about dense tree cover; I really like the views from up here. Some of the taller NM mountains I've been on lacked this due to the trees (e.g. Redondo, Taylor, etc.).
What I do like (and Sherman lacks) is a bit more... crag. Mountains like Uncompahgre, Wetterhorn, and Organ Needle have good chunks of exposed bedrock that make for more interesting climbs and a more rugged appearance than just a pile of loose stone.
It so doesn't look like you got to the top. That photo is a joke. Who was that guy anyway?