All Locations > Colorado > Estes Park Valley > CO Hwy 7 & Trib… > Prospect Mountain > Needle

Stitches

Name: Stitches
Rating: 1.9

5.10- YDS 6a French 18 Ewbanks VI+ UIAA 18 ZA E1 5a British

Routes in The Needle

L › R R › L A › Z

	Bustin' Move S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Damage Done, The S,TR 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
	Descent Route T,TR 5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c R
	Grommet, The S 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Momentary Lapse of Ethics S,TR 5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
	Needle TR wall aka Uphill Slab TR 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	North Lieback T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a PG13
	Patchwork S 5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	South Face T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Stitches S 5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Suburban Hangover S 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Temple of the Dog S 5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
	Unknown 5.12 S 5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
	Uphill Slab Direct S 5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c

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Type:	Sport, 55 ft (17 m)
FA:	Bob Siegrist and Michele Throne, May 11, 2022
Page Views:	159 total · 15/month
Shared By:	Bob Siegrist on Jul 26, 2022
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Thumb and Needle Closures - resolved with The Thumb Open Space creation Details

The Thumb and Needle are prominent crags (previously on private property) that are now on The Thumb Open Space, established in 2022 by the Town of Ester Park. Access to the crags is gained from a signed trailhead and small parking lot on Peak View Drive just west of Curry Drive. Do not park on Curry Drive or access the crags from anywhere along Curry Drive. From the Peak View Drive trailhead, the trail is well marked and approximately 0.75 miles long with an elevation gain of about 400 feet. Expect about 20 to 30 minutes for the approach to reach the Thumb and the Needle.

The Town of Estes Park worked on purchasing the property with the Access Fund, Rocky Mountain Conservancy, GOCO, and The Estes Valley Land Trust. The goal is to keep this area public with climbing access, so please respect private property rights of adjacent landowners.

For any questions about The Thumb Open Space, please contact Brian Berg, Park Supervisor, Town of Estes Park, bberg@estes.org, (970) 577-3783.

During 2022, major efforts were expended by members of the Boulder Climbing Community and Estes Park volunteers to replace over 100 old protection bolts and anchors on many of the sport climbs on the Thumb and the Needle. Many of the routes now have clip and lower anchors, and there are also new rappel stations on top of both crags and also the Thimble.

Formerly: The Thumb and Needle were on private property and the gravel road part of Curry Dr. is a private road. There was no public access to the Thumb or Needle until the Thumb Open Space was created. The Town of Estes Park purchased the property with our partners the Access Fund, Rocky Mountain Conservancy, GOCO, and The Estes Valley Land Trust. The goal was to make this area public with climbing access...success.

Any questions? Please contact me directly.

Brian Berg
Town of Estes Park
Park Supervisor
bberg@estes.org
(970) 577-3783

Description

Getting off the ground involves a sequence of bouldery moves using a vertical finger slot and crimps to climb past a bulge and gain the face above. Then mellow face climbing leads to a scoop below a flake. Climb up and over the left side of the flake onto the face above which leads to the anchors.

Either lower off from the anchors or scramble to the top of the Needle where a rap station can be used to descend.