Climbing Topo of the North Face of Sentinel Peak, Drakensberg.

Overview of Sentinel peak area

Northern Drakensberg
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Sentinel Peak
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Sentinel East Face
Special
Overhang
Double
PM Shade
Trad
General
Climbing
Beta

The East Face of Sentinel Peak is one of those faces which lul you into a space where you easily underestimate its seriousness. The East face sits alongside the easily accessible, relatively non-commiting North Face, and it is easy to ascribe the same sentiments. Do not.

Access to the East Face is from the Northern Flank via a diagonal rappel. If you pull your rappel lines, escape from The East Face is very complicated, making it an unexpectedly committing proposition.

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Approach

Approach as for the Chain Ladders from Sentinel Car Park.

At the highest level of the path, as it traverses The North Face, break out left to the skyline/ridge (Here Be Dragons). Continue around the ridge-line and descend onto the East Face via grassy ledges while hugging the face, until a bolted abseil point is reached. Rappel 50m diagonally down-left to a grassy ledge.

It is recommended to leave a rope fixed in case of retreat from the face.

Descent

Descend the standard route, or abseil/rappel MCM

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Icons and Symbols

AM Shade
Morning ; Afternoon ; All Day or NO Shade
10B | Ch
Equipped with x number of Bolts & Chains (lower off rings)
Alpine
Area's or routes located in mountainous regions and requiring multiple mountain skills (navigation ; extreme weather ; self sufficiency ; remote )
Ice
Area or Route requires Ice Climbing and associated Winter skills
Sport
Area or Route is fully equipped as a sport climb. Separate distinction for # of PITCHES
Sport & Trad
Area or Route is a mixture of SPORT & Trad climbing styles
Trad
Area or Route requires Traditional equipment and experties
2 Pitches
Indicates the typical # of pitches of the area or route
Special
Indicates that a specialised Rack or Traditional equipment is typically required and will be mentioned in the Route Description BETA
Standard
Indicates that typically a Standard Traditional Rack will suffice. Typically in ZA that is a 8-10 Cams + 10-15 wires/nuts.
50m
Indicates the minimum length rope needed to typically climb safely.
Double
Typically climbed using half ropes
Corner
Climbs or mostly climbs a corner system. This often requires stemming as a technique.
Crack Climb
Follows a crack-system predominantly and may require good jamming technique.
Overhang
Indicates the overall style. Face climbing is steeper than slab usually on small holds and edges, often feeling delicate / insecure.
Overhang
Overhanging, usually involving roofs.
Powerful
Powerful style is often in conjunction with another style but feeling more powerful than is common for the style.
Slab
Usually not quite vertical and requiring smearing and friction techniques.
Steep
Consistently steeper than Vertical but not overhanging / roof-y
Technical
Additional to general styles, requiring careful sequence and thoughtful climbing.
Vert
General vertical climbing with no other defining style.