While on top Sentinel in 1988 it looked like it might be feasible to drop off the east side of Sentinel and then climb Old Guard which is immediately to the east of Sentinel and almost as high. This would save considerable time and effort but further examination said you needed to have an ice axe to get down to the Sentinel/Old Guard col safely. So we retreated down the west face and I went around to the base of Old Guard, sticking up like a big, ugly thumb, and scrambled up the north ridge. The climb was actually quite delightful with little pockets of wildflowers on the lower part of the peak.