Here are a couple of new updates for this route description if you would like to add them:
- The first fork where you go north (left) is labeled with a stake for the Ring the Peak trail, which you should follow
- Follow the Ring the Peak trail until the reaching the next fork where the Ring the Peak trail continues north (left), and the trail to Sentinel goes northeastern (right). This fork is marked with a stake now as well.
- The creek you mentioned that is key to following is now a dry creekbed (at least by this time of year), but the trail leading into the dense forest is solid. Hunting for a small creek may be a little misleading...just stay on the trail
- There are an incredible 160 cairns before treeline while the trail grows faint, literally every couple of feet
- Once reaching treeline, an easier route is to hug the treeline on the right of the boulderfield up to the saddle - this avoids the boulderfield almost completely
- The route on your Topo map ascends a drainage that is 1 drainage too far to the south from what is in your description. Check out my loop track. I ascended Sentinel using waypoints I plotted from the Topo route you posted, which does follow a small creek, but is a total bushwhack. On descent I followed the drainage to the north and found the route you described.
Thanks for the description on this area! It was a great place to be in the fall!
HokieJim - Sep 28, 2008 8:18 pm - Hasn't voted
Route on Topo MapHey sisyphus,
Here are a couple of new updates for this route description if you would like to add them:
- The first fork where you go north (left) is labeled with a stake for the Ring the Peak trail, which you should follow
- Follow the Ring the Peak trail until the reaching the next fork where the Ring the Peak trail continues north (left), and the trail to Sentinel goes northeastern (right). This fork is marked with a stake now as well.
- The creek you mentioned that is key to following is now a dry creekbed (at least by this time of year), but the trail leading into the dense forest is solid. Hunting for a small creek may be a little misleading...just stay on the trail
- There are an incredible 160 cairns before treeline while the trail grows faint, literally every couple of feet
- Once reaching treeline, an easier route is to hug the treeline on the right of the boulderfield up to the saddle - this avoids the boulderfield almost completely
- The route on your Topo map ascends a drainage that is 1 drainage too far to the south from what is in your description. Check out my loop track. I ascended Sentinel using waypoints I plotted from the Topo route you posted, which does follow a small creek, but is a total bushwhack. On descent I followed the drainage to the north and found the route you described.
Thanks for the description on this area! It was a great place to be in the fall!
Cheers,
Jim