The Warlock

The Warlock from White Punks on Dope.

Description 

This is the awesome triple-tiered tower that crowns the end of the ridge. It is home to some of the longer, harder routes of the Needles such as The Romantic Warrior and Sea of Tranquility. A few short classics like the Howling and the Titantic are also located here. Climbs go up all sides of the Warlock, and your approach may vary depending on where you want to climb.

Decent from the summit involves rapping (two ropes) to the North.

Getting There 

Climbs on the upper North, West, and East faces are accessed via the main trail. Climbs that begin on the lower reaches of the Warlock can be accessed from this point as well (via rappels), or by decending down between the Sorcerer and Witch and hiking all the way around, or by approaching from Voodoo Dome (separate trailhead). I'm not sure which way is the most expedient...

Featured Route For The Warlock

Imaginary Voyage 5.9-  CA : The Needles / Kern River : The Warlock

There's probably a number of ways to break these pitches up and it appeared some possible variations on some of the pitches. Climb a great crack on the first pitch. Where this crack ends there is a bolted protected the face moves above. With a 60 meter rope you can take it all the way to a ledge where you can belay at the base of a left-facing dihedral. Climb the dihedral and belay at a ledge or continue up another crack before belaying at a ledg...[more]