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Elevation: 13,569 ft 4,136 m
GPS: 37.64627, -107.58777
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Shared By: Matthias Holladay on Mar 5, 2012
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
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Description Suggest change

As with its northerly neighbors, the Grenadiers, the Needles provide for some of the best backcountry mountaineering in the area. Huge potential exists on The Organ, Thompson Peak and others just to the south of the more popular and easier accessed Eolus, Sunlight, and Windom peaks. To the north of the peaks around Chicago Basin, lie the drainages of Ruby and Noname Creeks and these contain nice technical lines on peaks like Animas Mtn., The Index, Knife Point, Peak Ten, and of course Jagged. Though the Needles contain some very poor rock, there are those faces and spires which (for those who are in the know,) will yield some fantastic new routes.

Getting There Suggest change

From Silverton, one may simply walk the tracks for the Grenadiers; alternatively, hike down the Molas Switchbacks, Mary's Highland Trail, Hunchback Pass from Beartown, etc.

Purgatory Flat trail for the Needles is a casual hike in; Vallecito Creek accesses both mountains west, north, and east.

The trains? Pricy and smelly. Bring a mask, or don't, if you don't mind inhaling coal particulate smoke from the locomotives; additionally, expect typical tourist questions, sometimes asinine. :-|

23 Total Climbs

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Location: The Needles Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at The Needles

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
Mod. Snow
 17
● Naked Lady Couloir
Trad, Snow, Alpine
W Needle Mountains > Snowdon Peak
3rd 1- 1 I 1 M 1a
 17
● Northeast Ridge
Trad, Alpine
W Needle Mountains > Snowdon Peak
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b
 28
● West Buttress
Trad, Alpine
W Needle Mountains > Snowdon Peak
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b
 4
● South Ridge
Trad, Alpine
W Needle Mountains > Snowdon Peak
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b
 4
● South Slabs to Summit
Trad, Alpine
Leviathan Peak
5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c
 26
● North Face (submitted as Normal…
Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
Jagged Mountain
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 26
● Standard Route, Sunlight Spire
Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
Sunlight Spire
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Naked Lady Couloir W Needle Mountains > Snowdon Peak
 17
Mod. Snow Trad, Snow, Alpine
● Northeast Ridge W Needle Mountains > Snowdon Peak
 17
3rd 1- 1 I 1 M 1a Trad, Alpine
● West Buttress W Needle Mountains > Snowdon Peak
 28
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b Trad, Alpine
● South Ridge W Needle Mountains > Snowdon Peak
 4
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b Trad, Alpine
● South Slabs to Summit Leviathan Peak
 4
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b Trad, Alpine
● North Face (submitted as No… Jagged Mountain
 26
5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
● Standard Route, Sunlight Spire Sunlight Spire
 26
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
More Classic Climbs in The Needles »

Weather Averages

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Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

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Photos

Lower north face of Leviathan....
Lower north face of Leviathan....
 1

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