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Stitches
5.10a/b,
Sport, 55 ft (17 m),
Avg: 2 from 16
votes
FA: Bob Siegrist and Michele Throne, May 11, 2022
Colorado
> Estes Park Valley
> CO Hwy 7 & Trib…
> Prospect Mountain
> Needle
Access Issue: Temporary trail closure & Thumb and Needle Closures - resolved with The Thumb Open Space creation
Details
Temporary trail closure at The Thumb Trailhead:
Beginning Jan. 19, 2024, and lasting no later than Feb. 9, 2024, the Town of Estes Park will be temporarily closing the trailhead access at the Thumb Open Space due to required construction activity. This area will be blocked off and not accessible during the closure period. There will no parking or public access from the trailhead.
Brian Berg
Park Supervisor
Town of Estes Park
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.
Location
Stitches starts on the right wall of a short, left-facing dihedral about 30 feet downhill from the NW corner of the Needle and the Descent Route.
Protection
6 bolts to a 2 bolt anchor with steel carabiners.
![The Southwest face of the Needle showing the route called Stitches.]()
[Hide Photo] The Southwest face of the Needle showing the route called Stitches.
![Michele climbing through the flake section near the top of Stitches.]()
[Hide Photo] Michele climbing through the flake section near the top of Stitches.
![Michele pulling through the opening moves on Stitches.]()
[Hide Photo] Michele pulling through the opening moves on Stitches.
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