Sentinel Spire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sentinel Spire |
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Southwest aspect
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,500 ft (1,700 m) |
| Prominence | 180 ft (55 m) |
| Isolation | 0.48 mi (0.77 km) |
| Parent peak | The Island |
| Geography | |
 Sentinel Spire
Location in Colorado
Sentinel Spire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Colorado National Monument Mesa County, Colorado, U.S. |
| Parent range | Colorado Plateau Uncompahgre Plateau |
| Topo map | USGS Colorado National Monument |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Late Triassic to Early Jurassic |
| Type of rock | Wingate Sandstone |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | May 3, 1960 |
| Easiest route | class 5.10+ climbing |
Sentinel Spire is a tall, 5,500-foot (1,700-meter) rock pillar made of sandstone. You can find it in the Colorado National Monument, in western Colorado, USA. This amazing 200-foot tower stands freely in Wedding Canyon. It's about half a mile east of the park's visitor center and 9 miles west of Grand Junction. It's also close to other cool rock formations like Window Rock and Pipe Organ. You can see all of them from viewpoints along Rim Rock Drive.
The first people to climb to the very top were Layton Kor, Harvey Carter, and John Auld on May 3, 1960. They used a route called Fast Draw. The very next day, these same climbers also reached the top of another nearby rock, Kissing Couple. The first time someone climbed it alone was Ron Olevsky in March 1976. Later, Andy Petefish and John Christenson made the first free ascent in 1978. Some climbers even call Sentinel Spire Watusi Spear.
What is Sentinel Spire Made Of?
This tall rock is mostly made of Wingate Sandstone. This type of rock formed from ancient sand dunes about 200 million years ago. These dunes were created by wind carrying tiny grains of quartz. If you look closely, you can see patterns in the rock called cross-bedding. These patterns show how the sand was piled up long ago.
The ground around the bottom of Sentinel Spire is made of something called the Chinle Formation. Even older rocks are found at the very bottom of the canyon. These are Precambrian basement rocks like gneiss, schist, and granite. Any rain or snow that falls on Sentinel Spire eventually flows into the Colorado River, which is about 1.5 miles away.
Weather at Sentinel Spire
Sentinel Spire is in a semi-arid climate zone. This means it's usually dry. Summers here are hot and dry, while winters are cold and get some snow. Temperatures can reach 100°F (38°C) about 5 days a year. They often hit 90°F (32°C) for about 57 days. On the other hand, temperatures stay at or below freezing for about 13 days each year. The best time to visit Sentinel Spire is from April through October, when the weather is most pleasant.
Climbing Sentinel Spire
Sentinel Spire is a popular spot for climbing. Here are some of the well-known routes climbers use to reach the top:
- Fast Draw – This route is rated class 5.10c and has 2 sections, called pitches. It was first climbed in 1960.
- Medicine Man – This route is rated class 5.12c and has 4 pitches.
- Vision Quest – This route is rated class 5.11+ and has 2 pitches.
