Dyer Mountain Trip Report 09/15/2021

Peak(s):	Dyer Mtn - 13,855 feet Gemini Pk - 13,951 feet Mt. Sherman - 14,043 feet Sheridan, Mt - 13,748 feet
Date Posted:	09/15/2021
Modified:	09/17/2021
Date Climbed:	08/25/2021
Author:	l_grunewald1017

Dyer, Gemini, Sherman & Sheridan
Needed a break from school and work and wanted to try to avoid big crowds so I decided to head up to Leadville for some 13er fun! Stayed in Leadville Tuesday night at the Delaware and it was lovely! Such history there! Woke up around 0400 Wednesday morning and started off to the Iowa Gulch trailhead. Made it just fine in my Toyota Corolla! Started up the old mining road from the trailhead parking lot towards Dyer about 0530. Below is looking up towards the ridge between Dyer and Gemini and the wonderful power lines. Sorry I didn't take more pictures but basically follow the old mining road until you run into the old mining establishment and then make your way up Dyer. Just find a good line and make it up the steep slope. Up on the ridge crest. Follow the ridge up to the summit. You can just stroll up or scramble around a little to make it fun! View from the summit below looking northwest to the class 4 west ridge of Dyer I believe. Descend Dyer's summit to the ridge between Dyer and Gemini. Like many have said, it really is a lot less scary that it looks. Promise! Below looking back at Dyer and the power lines and toward Gemini and the rocky ridge. Next, ascend Gemini. There are some cairns you can follow and dispersed trails but just look to the summits and pick your best route. Again, not as bad as it looks from far away. Ascending Gemini and looking back at Dyer. I came out between both of Gemini's summits. Below I am on top of the more northern summit which is the taller of the two looking across to the other summit. Just scrambled up this summit from the saddle between the two summits. There may have been a better way up around the back side of this summit but I wasn't sure. This summit is like a big pile of rocks so just be careful and go slow and don't put too much of your trust into any one rock because may of them are loose! There was not trail up it as far as I could see. On top of the more southern summit looking at the taller of the two summits that clearly from this viewpoint looks like a huge rock pile. It was a fun one though! Next your goal is to reach Sherman's summit. This is an easy walk over and of course it's pretty likely that there will always be someone on Sherman's summit so just make your way to the crowds but enjoy your walk over. There are beautiful views! Sherman's summit below. Sorry-not the best photo from the summit. Too many peeps up there and made it quick over the top. Going down Sherman, I stayed to the ridge and recommend it. The trail skirts the ridge in some areas and it looks loose and steep in parts. The ridge was wide and rocky and I was by myself which was a plus. When you get down to the saddle between Sherman and Sheridan, look up and pick out your route to go up Sheridan. There are trails that braid out and cairns here and there, so just use those for guidance and just make you way up. It's not difficult at all. You'll get to the top of Sheridan and there is a ridge between high points but follow it all the way down to the end where there is a wind shelter (seen below) and you've made it! At the top of Sheridan looking back towards Sherman, Gemini and Dyer! After you have enjoyed the views and peace and quiet (I didn't run into any one on any of the 13ers!) make you way back down Sheridan to the saddle between Sherman and Sheridan where the Iowa Gulch trail leads you back down to the parking area. My thought after doing this was maybe I should have done the peaks the other way around and come up Iowa Gulch instead of going down it. The trail going down into Iowa Gulch is pretty steep in parts and there is a lot of loose rocks, and loose sandy, dirty, gritty areas that make great opportunities for falling especially at the end of your day when you are tired. I've been through worse but this was the least fun part of my hike. Hope this report give you the information and insights that you need and that everyone is staying happy and healthy and getting outside! -Laura https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/dyer-mountain-2118d8a Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Dyer, Gemini, Sherman & Sheridan

Needed a break from school and work and wanted to try to avoid big crowds so I decided to head up to Leadville for some 13er fun!

Stayed in Leadville Tuesday night at the Delaware and it was lovely! Such history there! Woke up around 0400 Wednesday morning and started off to the Iowa Gulch trailhead. Made it just fine in my Toyota Corolla! Started up the old mining road from the trailhead parking lot towards Dyer about 0530. Below is looking up towards the ridge between Dyer and Gemini and the wonderful power lines. Sorry I didn't take more pictures but basically follow the old mining road until you run into the old mining establishment and then make your way up Dyer. Just find a good line and make it up the steep slope.

Up on the ridge crest.

Follow the ridge up to the summit. You can just stroll up or scramble around a little to make it fun! View from the summit below looking northwest to the class 4 west ridge of Dyer I believe.

Going down Sherman, I stayed to the ridge and recommend it. The trail skirts the ridge in some areas and it looks loose and steep in parts. The ridge was wide and rocky and I was by myself which was a plus. When you get down to the saddle between Sherman and Sheridan, look up and pick out your route to go up Sheridan. There are trails that braid out and cairns here and there, so just use those for guidance and just make you way up. It's not difficult at all. You'll get to the top of Sheridan and there is a ridge between high points but follow it all the way down to the end where there is a wind shelter (seen below) and you've made it!

At the top of Sheridan looking back towards Sherman, Gemini and Dyer!

After you have enjoyed the views and peace and quiet (I didn't run into any one on any of the 13ers!) make you way back down Sheridan to the saddle between Sherman and Sheridan where the Iowa Gulch trail leads you back down to the parking area. My thought after doing this was maybe I should have done the peaks the other way around and come up Iowa Gulch instead of going down it. The trail going down into Iowa Gulch is pretty steep in parts and there is a lot of loose rocks, and loose sandy, dirty, gritty areas that make great opportunities for falling especially at the end of your day when you are tired. I've been through worse but this was the least fun part of my hike.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Barnold41	:) 09/16/2021 10:06 Did this a few weeks ago but skipped Sheridan since I'd already done it with Sherman previously. It's always funny to me how 13ers, no matter how close and easy to get to, are skipped over because there's a 14er in the area
SchralpTheGnar	You know what else is funny 09/16/2021 22:01 people who skip mountains that they have done before, it‘s like if they‘ve already checked it off a list then what‘s the point. Absolutely hilarious, Ha ha ha, ahhhh ha ha ha, ah ha

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