The Sentinel in winter

[LeftRightShoot]

Gday,

Anyone summited The Sentinel in winter? Care to share your experiences/advice?

Ive stood 400m away from this thing a few times now... time to stand on top!

c.

[climberman]

Yes, a few times. The last time was in 2003 with the late Graeme Nelson of Eden; that's him on the left. We are on top of Sentinel Peak, as Elyne Mitchell called it.



Access across the ridge is reasonably straighforward except for the small gendarme before the low point. I have always negotiated this to the south but would assess it on the day.
I like to stick to the ridge.

this is a pic of spring slab avalanche, all the way to grass. I think it's from 2000, but it's not my shot. I have seen others that are similar (KCross?). Be sensible out there. To exit I have either booted up the ridge climbers' left of the avalanche in the pic, or up what I call James MacArthur Ridge, which is the ridge that seperated Carruthers from Sentinel Peak.

As for experiences I have had winderful dry light fluff in the gap all the way to the base. With Graeme fast and wonderful runs off the peak down the SW face runs, wide and open and hollering. I think it's my favourite NSW true peak, it's always the sign of a fun day when I find myself out on the trig on Sentinel Peak. It will always be a bit sentimental to me now after Graeme's passing.

[LeftRightShoot]

Wow... to both photos... I cant believe you skied off that!

It is a special place for me just in terms of its sheer scale.

Thanks, we will be nipping out and back from the main range (camping near the river at the 2000m mark); the intent is to stay on the ridge. This will be my first "true" peak in winter. Ive surveyed this from the east a few times and find it hard to judge the difficulty of the ascent after the saddle. Are crampons and ice axes needed for the ascent/descent or is it (safely) doable scrambling and digging a few steps?

c.

[climberman]

Hi c (*boom tish*),

it depends. I assume any surface is possible on the Main Range, from bullet proof ice to fluffy dry stuff. Often within a few steps of each other !

I can't remember the part from the saddle up being too demanding, but I likely used skis and skins. I might have bootpacked it. It's not really ice tool territory though in general. Just be prepared to be safe and steady. I would skied out to the gendarme along the ridge and then again to the saddle.

[LeftRightShoot]

Thank you very much. Excited.

[climberman]

http://www.ozbc.net/nsw_sentinel.htm

might assist as well.

[climberman]

Did you get out there C ?

[LeftRightShoot]

mate it was awesome! Ill put a trip report up soon

Many thanks.