Sentinel ("Rainbow") Peak near Lake Mead, NV

H.W. Stockman
January 16, 2005

The mountain is on the south side of the Pinto Valley near Lake Mead. Access is from the Northshore road. Route developed by Nick N. Register placed (and first recorded ascent) by Ed F.

There is no trail. This a rough hike, requiring route-finding skills. GPS files are at page bottom -- use at your own risk!

GPS trace; "CHOKE" is location of chokestone. On the mountain, the east route is used for ascent, and the west route is the usual descent route. Near the end of the descent, one comes to a high dryfall; at that point, climb NE up a crack, out of the canyon.

Looking S down into Pinto Valley from first highpoint on Pinto Ridge. One must descend ~1000'. Fortification Hill is at right in background.

Still moving down Pinto Ridge, view ~ SE. Booth's Pinnacle and Pyramid are the sharp peaks to the left, in the distance.

View S, right above chokestone. We went down and up over chokestone, and later found there was a much easier walk-around to east. Peaks in distance are Guardian (L) and Boulder (far R).

Pierre on nasty chokestone, as seen from below.

Across valley, up, and on summit ridge, view W.

View W.

View back E.

View ENE.

True summit, view W.

Snow-covered Charleston (Spring Mt) range in distance at WNW.

Cerebellum check for Harlan. Frenchman Mt. is above my head in the distance; note the pollution in Las Vegas Valley, beyond Frenchman.

Frenchman, but not the mountain.

View mainly E to S (panorama); Lake Mead in distance, Overton arm.

Here is a key to the mountains.

Begin descent down W side of peak.

Muddy Mts. in distance.

Pierre by conglomerate.

We saw a lot of these, about 3.5 to 4 cm long. Retractable claws indicate the cat family, probably a bobcat. Note how the front paw prints are overprinted with the back paw prints; bobcats often walk this way while hunting.

Returning across Pinto Valley, view SE to Sentinel (red peak).

Descending down N side of Pinto Ridge, we see Bitter Ridge.