Sentinel Dome, Yosemite

Three great monoliths dominate Yosemite Valley. El Capitan, Half Dome and Sentinel Dome. The last one is not nearly as well known as the first two, and that’s a real shame - it is the easiest to ascend. You can drive right up to it, well - to it’s trail head anyway. But from there it is only a 1.2 mile hike - 30 minutes, more or less. Although breathing at this rare air is not as easy as it is down in the valley. At 8.600 feet above sea level, most tourists were open-mouthed and wheezing. But it is well worth it. Here is a view of Yosemite Falls, 2425 feet of waterfall. it is spectaculalr from any angle, this is a different view.
To say that there is a 360° view is to understate the point. You can see everything.


Here is another photo of Half Dome photographed from the top of Senitinel Dome.


And here is the top of Half Dome at 100X magnification made from the same spot:



Now why would anyone make such a ridiculous picture? Must be a form of altitude sickness.

© John Womack, 2006. All Rights Reserved.