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 Print a Mini-Guide - Includes Routes!
DescriptionThe Needle is a major feature on the west side of the Sandia Mountains near the north end. Aptly known in the past as The Pyramid, The Needle stands just south of The Shield. The Needle is known for some arduous approaches and long routes. Plan your climbs with care. Getting ThereGenerally speaking, climbs on the south and east sides are initially approached starting from The Crest, hiking to the saddle at the east side of The Needle, and continuing on approach as needed from there; Mick Schein's guide "Sandia Rock" describes this approach for the case of the Southwest Ridge Route. Climbs on the west side may be approached by hiking up the Movie Trail passing to the south of The Prow and then scrambling to the base of the Needle. One Way to Descend from the SummitIn a comment to the SW Ridge route, Daniel T. mentions a ramp from which there are a couple short raps into the ravine that runs along the south side of The Needle. Here's how to get to that ramp. From the summit head east-ish and down hill through pine-needle duff amongst the trees. Work you way to the 'crown' in this direction by trending slightly north as you head further down and east. Eventually, you will need to drop to skier's left of the 'crown' which is now turning into a ridge that heads east. If you miss the drop to left then back track a little (i.e., no down climbing at this point). Continue down and east-ish on very easy ledges staying within 20 feet or so of the now well-formed ridge. Within minutes you will reach a minor saddle between the main summit block and a small rock tower to the east (50 feet tall?). Locate a ramp down below on the south side of this saddle. Down climb ~20 feet to the ramp. From there, it's another 20 easy feet or so to a tree with rap slings/rings. There are two relatively short raps, both from trees, with a short scramble between them. However, if you continue on rappel from the first rap tree to the second then you may want to knot the ends of a 60 meter rope. The ClassicsMountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for The Needle:
Southwest Ridge 5.8 PG13 Trad, Alpine, 10 pitches, 1300 feet, Grade IV
Featured Route For The Needle
 Longest route in the Sandias. Around 1300 vertical feet of climbing after a brutal 2+ hour approach. Plan for 10-15 hours car to car depending on your speed. Take a machete for your approach.[Pitch-by-pitch descriptions below by G.Perkins; numbers coincide with Sandia Rock but I'd recommend linking or shortening pitches as I suggest below]P1: Beginning at the very bottom of the ridge, climb easy cracks to reach a good ledge whe...[more] Browse More Classics in NM
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