Sentinel (aka "Rainbow Lake Mead") with LVMC

pics by Harlan W. S., Colin, Chris M and Eric.
Feb. 13, 2010

We had 10 people on this trip. The previous rains had left the washes slightly soft; but the real challenge was when we came down the sandstone slot. The water had soaked the sandstone, and it was quite brittle. The last set of ramps was covered with loose sand from the rains, which made the crossing sketchy. Next time I will probably bring harnesses so we can rap the last big drop in the slot canyon, and avoid the ledges.

This was my 6^th time on Sentinel. My 5^th time, on a different route, was just two days before. This is one of Nick N’s favorite hikes, and he pioneered this route we took with the LVMC.

We saw fairly fresh mountain lion tracks in the wash.

	Heading across Pinto Valley. Pic by Colin.
Dropping into sandstone canyon; pic by Colin.		Onto limestone; pic by Colin.
View W from high pass.
View W across “cornice.”	We walk across the mud+gypsum “cornice.” View W. Next we will climb the good frictional limestone on the left of the ridge. Pic by Chris M.	View SW as Bill climbs the limestone.
		Look closely and see the hikers on ridge.
Pic by Eric.
		View back E, of group on summit.
Charleston in distance.	Eric explores.	Now we head SW ove conglomerate. When we reach the far side (in shadows), we will turn NE and enter the sandstone.
	Now we turn NE and enter the sandstone canyon.	The sandstone was wet and brittle.
	Conglomerate boulders have tumbled down quite a ways.
Ah yes, the last ramps after the canyon. We set up the red handline, with “meat anchors” on each end across the iffiest stretch. Chris M is hidden on the R, in a little cave; we had two people on the L. These pictures taken from below by Eric, camera pointed up in telephoto mode.	After we got a replacement meat anchor (2 on the L side), I went back to provide artificial footholds (red shirt, tan shorts).