Sentinel Dome

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sentinel Dome
Sentinel Dome (circa 1910)
Elevation	8,122 ft (2,476 m)
Location	California, USA
Range	Sierra Nevada
Coordinates	37°43′23″N, 119°35′00″W
Topo map	USGS Half Dome
Type	Granite dome
Age of rock	Cretaceous
Easiest route	hike

Sentinel Dome is a granite dome in Yosemite National Park, United States. It lies on the south wall of Yosemite Valley, 0.8 mile (1.3 km) southwest of Glacier Point and 1.4 miles (2.2 km) northeast of Profile Cliff.

The Jeffrey Pine atop Sentinel Dome, while it was still alive

The original Native American name of Sentinel Dome was "Sakkaduch". The Bunnell survey named it "South Dome", but the Whitney survey renamed it Sentinel Dome (from its likeness to a watch-tower). The view from the top, offers a 360 degree view of Yosemite Valley and surroundings. One can see Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, North Dome, Basket Dome, and much more.

Sentinel Dome is known for a Jeffrey Pine that grew from its peak (see photograph, left). The pine was photographed as early as 1867 by Carleton Watkins. The tree died during the drought in 1976^[1]. The dead tree remained standing until August, 2003.

[edit] Hiking Trail

Hiker walks over snow on the way to the top of Sentinel Dome in mid-May

The hike is a relatively easy 2.2 miles (3.5 km) roundtrip hike leading to the base of Sentinel Dome. The trailhead, the same as the Taft Point trailhead, is located 6 miles (9.7 km) from Bridalveil Creek on the Glacier Point road. Once at the base, hikers will traverse the less imposing north east granite slope,^[2] until they make it to the top.