(Round trip, 2 miles in 2 hours)
The short excursion from ~Glacier Point~ to the summit of ~Sentinel
Dome~ is well worth while. The round trip can easily be made afoot in
two hours and many hikers include it in their "Glacier Point" day.
From the hotel we follow the ~Chinquapin Road~ about a quarter of a
mile. Just beyond a spring at the left of the road, the trail turns to
the right and climbs abruptly beneath the firs and pines. Gradually
the forest becomes more open and park-like, and the firs are replaced
by hardy Jeffrey pines. During the last quarter mile of the ascent we
pass over weathered granite which has exfoliated in slabs near the
top. At the rounded summit is a gnarled and wind-blown Jeffrey
pine--probably the most photographed tree in the park. To the east is
an exceptionally fine panorama of the High Sierra.
In returning to Glacier Point we follow the trail to the south,
intersecting the road about 300 yards away. Here we turn left, noting
the soft decomposing granite which seems particularly susceptible to
weather conditions. The distance beyond to the hotel is one and a half
miles.