Mt. Sherman - Patriotic Costume Hike

Let's celebrate the 4th of July by hiking Mt Sherman in patriotic or superhero costumes! Kenan has offered to host and it will be great for the group to start doing hikes again.

Difficulty: Class 2
Distance: 5.25 miles starting at the 12,000-foot gate
Starting Elevation: 12,000'
Summit Elevation: 14,036'
Elevation Gain: 2,100' starting at the 12,000-foot gate

Plan:
While it is a difficult hike I would like it to be fun so the pace will not be too quick. We will start from the 12,000' gate at 7am. If you wear a costume make sure it will be warm and wind resistant enough for high elevations (or that you can wear something over it). It is large group everyone will not be able to stay together the entire time so please make sure you are self-sufficient. Please be considerate to the other people in your car when deciding on when to start heading down.

Carpool:
The Fort in Morrison (https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Fort/@39.628934,-105.192492,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x876b787598636253:0x4417dd4b7cda1d5) is a possible meeting place for those who wish to carpool.

Directions to Trailhead:
From Fairplay, drive just over a mile south on U.S. 285 and turn right onto County Road 18. Drive 10 miles to a large parking area at 11,250'. This is the Leavick site. There is a large mine building on the right before the parking area. The road starts to get rough after this point but passenger cars can slowly drive another 1.5 miles before the road gets harsh. There are a couple of small pull-offs between 11,700' and 11,900' and more parking before a gate near 12,000'.

Equipment:
Everyone should have a GPS device or GPS phone app (there are many free ones) that they can use to track their route and navigate on their own. As with any 14er it is highly recommended that you bring the ten essentials. The complete list can be found at http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html. Finally, please bring food, plenty of water, and sunscreen.

Disclaimer:
By attending this hike you assume all responsibility for your own safety and agree that the event host, organizer, the 14er Fan Club, and Meetup are in no way liable in the event of your injury or death. Mountaineering in Colorado can be very dangerous and many people have died on the 14ers. Weather, terrain, and other people can put you in a situation where your knowledge and experience will be vital. If you are new to these peaks, I urge you to pick up a book on mountaineering safety and make sure your basic navigation skills (map+compass, not only GPS) are up-to-par and you can rely on them in a tough situation.
Just because a crowd of people can march to the summit of Quandary Peak on a summer Saturday, it doesn’t mean that they are all safe.
Altitude sickness, dehydration, and fast-building storms are the most common problems. Please be in shape and self-sufficient. Although this is a group activity you are responsible for yourself. Everyone is to be self-sufficient - i.e. responsible for own camping gear, clothing, food, water, other drinks, etc.