- Sentinel Dome
Infobox Mountain|Name=Sentinel Dome
Photo=Sentinel dome cropped.jpg
Caption=Sentinel Dome (circa 1910)
Elevation=8,122 ft (2,476 m)
Location=California , USA
Range=Sierra Nevada
Coordinates=coord|37|43|23|N|119|35|00|W|type:mountain
Topographic
USGS Half Dome
Type=Granite dome
Age=Cretaceous
Easiest route=hikeSentinel Dome is a
granite dome inYosemite National Park ,United States . It lies on the south wall ofYosemite Valley , 0.8 mile (1.3 km) southwest ofGlacier Point and 1.4 miles (2.2 km) northeast ofProfile Cliff .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 seeHalf 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 byCarleton Watkins . The tree died during thedrought in 1976 [cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/yose/news/2003/tree0818.htm|title=Famous Jeffrey Pine Falls on Sentinel Dome-Yosemite National Park|accessdate=2008-05-25|publisher=NPS] . The dead tree remained standing until August, 2003.Hiking Trail
The hike is a relatively easy convert|2.2|mi|km roundtrip hike leading to the base of Sentinel Dome. The trailhead, the same as the
Taft Point trailhead, is located convert|6|mi|km fromBridalveil Creek on theGlacier Point road. Once at the base, hikers will traverse the less imposing north east granite slope, [cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/glacierhikes.htm|title=Day Hikes along the Glacier Point Road|publisher=NPS|accessdate=2008-05-25] until they make it to the top.References
External links
* [http://www.yosemite.ca.us/history/place_names_of_the_high_sierra/s.html Place names in the High Sierra: S]
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