General Needles Beta

Afternoon, 

Me and some friends are planning to go to the needles in mid-June. We're figuring out logistics and I have a couple of questions: 

1. We plan on getting an air bnb in Ponderosa: Is Ponderosa a good option for access to both the main needles trailhead and voodoo dome? Google maps is currently showing no connecting road from Ponderosa to the voodoo dome trailhead. It looks like M-50 connects them, but is only open in the Summer? Is it far to drive from Ponderosa to voodoo dome trailhead when the roads are open in the Summer?

2. Is the approach from parking to the main needles about 1.5 hours?

3. How are the temps/conditions in June, on average?

Thanks for any help, we are all so excited :) 

This thread has a bunch of info especially as it pertains to the fire a couple of years ago.

Ponderosa should be good for accessing the main Needles, I believe that's where I stayed at an AirBnb also. 

I climbed there the weekend of June 20th last year and if anything, it was cold on the rock - lots of wind and pretty moderate temps. I climbed in a light fleece and windbreaker.

I don't know if it's convenient to Voodoo Dome but then again I thought you could only access that area by doing the regular Needles approach.

Distance/time-wise it depends on which formation you're going to, how fast your crew hikes, and how lost or not lost you get on the approach. Going to the saddle is not as far a hike as say, going to The Witch (where Igor Unchained is) or The Warlock. I'd plan on 2 hours, at least for day 1. 

When I climbed there I added a bunch of pictures to the main Needles page to try and help show where to go once you reach the Needles overlook at the hitching post so download the offline pics and pay attention to landmarks/indicators as you hike. It's easy to get from the parking area to the lookout/hitching post. Beyond that is when you start going down to the saddle and the formations and that's where you want to pay attention.

I never made it to Voodoo Dome so I can't help there, but if you have other questions (especially about The Witch), I'll try and help

EDIT: Here is a link to the GPX file you can pull off Mountain Project to help you on the approach

The GPX page itself

We used to take 22S83 down to get to Voodoo. 

No telling what condition it is post fire and decent ground clearance required in any case.  I'd ask at the Ponderosa if anyone knows what condition it's in.  Otherwise you have to drive clear back to Johnsondale.

June is way too late for Voodoo dome.
The lower road, at one time, was open around early March. Tons of great climbs. Now the government keeps the gate locked till Memorial Day…. Sadly.

Purchase the guide book or you will be completely lost.

Have fun 

agreed on the "too late" sentiment, though I once hiked up at 0400, knocked out wpod early, and went to find a stream to soak in later that morning. Def won't get more than a few hours to climb before it's baking but it's possible to top out voodoo if you're willing to get up pretty early and just be satisfied w/ a half day (generally I would not be happy w/ this... but, in a pinch....)

Is Voodoo Dome really that much hotter than the main formations? I checked my ticks and I climbed Igor Unchained and Airy Interlude in late June last year and if anything, I was cold on the wall. Was that an odd colder weekend or does Voodoo just bake? Pardon the ignorance, I've only been to The Needles once so far

Cosmic Hotdogwrote:

Is Voodoo Dome really that much hotter than the main formations? I checked my ticks and I climbed Igor Unchained and Airy Interlude in late June last year and if anything, I was cold on the wall. Was that an odd colder weekend or does Voodoo just bake? Pardon the ignorance, I've only been to The Needles once so far

Last year was unusually cool throughout the summer. Moderates such as WPOD are still doable in the summer if you start early and aren't climbing through a heat wave. with that said, you will not want to be at the base of the routes on Voodoo when the sun is out hitting the dome. You'll bake

Juan Vargaswrote:

Last year was unusually cool throughout the summer. Moderates such as WPOD are still doable in the summer if you start early and aren't climbing through a heat wave. with that said, you will not want to be at the base of the routes on Voodoo when the sun is out hitting the dome. You'll bake

Good to know, thanks Juan. I'm headed back in mid June again so it helps to have more data in terms of what to expect weather-wise

Cosmic Hotdogwrote:

Good to know, thanks Juan. I'm headed back in mid June again so it helps to have more data in terms of what to expect weather-wise

The weather in the Needles changes.
I have camped in the snow in June and climbed in shorts in December.
The limiting factor- the roads.

Voodoo Dome and the upper Needles are two different climate zones. Voodoo bakes in the sun all day, unless you get an alpine start. I've had my best times at Voodoo in late September, just before they close the road. The upper formations can be chilly any time of year, especially in the shade, and especially if the wind kicks up.

Dome Rock is hot in the summer 'till the sun goes over the top in the early afternoon. Then you can enjoy a long shady afternoon / early evening playing on the best collection of easily accessible high quality granite face climbs in the southern Sierra. With easy classics like Tree Route and Arch Bitch-up to mega classics like Saucer Full of Secrets and Between Nothingness and Eternity, to Ron Carson's power-slab test pieces like Carsonogenic and Chemotherapy, there is something for everybody.

Kristian Solemwrote:

Voodoo Dome and the upper Needles are two different climate zones. Voodoo bakes in the sun all day, unless you get an alpine start. I've had my best times at Voodoo in late September, just before they close the road. The upper formations can be chilly any time of year, especially in the shade, and especially if the wind kicks up.

Dome Rock is hot in the summer 'till the sun goes over the top in the early afternoon. Then you can enjoy a long shady afternoon / early evening playing on the best collection of easily accessible high quality granite face climbs in the southern Sierra. With easy classics like Tree Route and Arch Bitch-up to mega classics like Saucer Full of Secrets and Between Nothingness and Eternity, to Ron Carson's power-slab test pieces like Carsonogenic and Chemotherapy, there is something for everybody.

Thanks Kris! I bought your awesome guide book and I'm looking for partners now for the first week of my summer break starting 6/6, if anyone wants to come up with a plan hit me up!