Which of the 14ers Should I Make My First 14er? A Mount Sherman Route Review for New Climbers
About every few days or so - at least, over the summer months - I see a question like, “I am wanting to attempt my first 14er; which one should I do?” Well, this is an answer to those inquiries. There is certainly more than one peak that can make a reasonable first 14er attempt, so please don’t take this as the definitive finding. For instance, if you live in Grand Junction, CO or Durango, CO, you probably aren’t going to be driving four-plus hours to go climb Mount Sherman; Handies Peak may make more sense based on geography alone.
And then, there is the various factors that combine to make a total experience. Some of those factors are in tension. For example, crowds are a product of ease of access. So, it takes longer drives to get away from the masses. So, I am looking for balance. Close enough to get too, but not so close as to have hundreds of climbers attempting on any one day.
But to me the big, one and the one that makes Sherman the most balanced in a way that will support a positive experience, is its steepness. Steepness is a function, yes of vertical gain, but also distance. So, longer hikes have less overall steepness. And this matters for new climbers because steepness dramatically increases the amount of work. The military has done some studies and have developed a rule of thumb that even something as small as a five degree incline (10% grade) will cut your speed in half. A 10% grade is going one foot up for every 10 feet forward. Well, most 14ers will average something like 1000 feet gain for every mile, or slightly more than 5000 feet. Well, that’s a 20% grade over the long haul of the climb. And, of course, the climb is usually steeper at specific points - like when gaining a ridge or climbing up out of a basin.
So, you can find shorter climbs, but that isn’t what stops most people from making a 14er summit. Few people try a 14er who can’t already hike six to ten miles. The issue is the steepness combined with the altitude. There are shorter 14ers in the area, but as I mention in the video, they are all steeper. And even “the other route” on Sherman is steeper. The video is reviewing the “Southwest Ridge Route,” as opposed to the “Iowa Gulch Route,” which approaches from the opposite side of the peak, is shorter, but is also steeper.
When you are doing these things, the entire experience is something that is bigger than just one dimension. It is the route, the people, the difficulty, the views, all of it. And, of course, maybe the most important elements will be the people you are with. That’s why Sherman has been our go-to for “first 14ers.” We’ve been able to spend some time with our family members because the climb of Mount Sherman is accessible and doable for many within our family - not just the hardcore outdoors people.
If you want to plan your hike of Mount Sherman via the Southwest Ridge Route, take a look at our video and blog on how to plan your 14er climbs, and then take a look at the 14ers.com page for the route so you can get all the detailed information you will need.