gyselinck Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 How come there arn't any TRs for the Nightmare Needles? Anybody ever go there? It looks like a lot of little cool looking crags in the Beckey. Anybody been there? Know anything? Quote
olyclimber Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 There is at least one or two TRs of people climbing the Flagpole. The approach via Crystal Creek is burnt out from the recent fire...a fun ash slog. Or you could rapel from Lil Annapurna. Quote
gyselinck Posted September 13, 2005 Author Posted September 13, 2005 I was more thinking the stuff on McClellan Peak, like Little Snowpatch, Fire Spire, Fire Wall, Nocturne Tower, Fantasia Tower, Cynical Pinnacle, those things. Nobody wouldn't happen to have a distant picture of any of them would they, or have been there? Theres just a sketch in the Beckey. Looks kind of like an interesting area to check out. Quote
olyclimber Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 I also have a little bit of video scoping out the Needles at home. Cool looking stack of rocks over there. Excellent trundling possiblities. Quote
gyselinck Posted September 13, 2005 Author Posted September 13, 2005 Thanks for the input olyclimber! What are we looking at in that picture, what direction? I'm thinking thats the needles on the far right? Quote
olyclimber Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 Yes...that is the Needles on the right. The arrow indicates the direction and origination of the view: Quote
MountaingirlBC Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 They do like like fun! I was drooling on them last month from Little Annapurna: Â Â Â Quote
olyclimber Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 Great pictures Mountaingirl...but those are of Pennant Peak and the Flagpole. The Nightmare Needles are to the east of these peaks. But again...great pictures. Quote
MountaingirlBC Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 oooooooooooooooo......... i was afraid that was going to happen. When I read 'rap down from Lil Annapurna' I thought "ooooooooo that must be what those were!" Never count on me for route finding. Quote
olyclimber Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 ya...that was my goof up I was just thinking of any TRs in that area that I knew of Quote
rat Posted September 14, 2005 Posted September 14, 2005 crystal creek tower is nice. the 5.9ish route (doorish?) is one of the longer ones in that area. it puts you on the ridge by mcclellan but the summit is not as distinct as the other spires. Quote
gyselinck Posted September 14, 2005 Author Posted September 14, 2005 I was thinking that Lizard Wall sounded really cool. Quote
plumbbob Posted September 17, 2005 Posted September 17, 2005 Dave Stutzman and I did a traverse of the Nightmare needles back in 1980. Some very good climbing. We thought it was one of the longer ridges to traverse but it doesn't have the commitment factor. You can escape off in many places. FYI we were climbing the ridge when Mt. St. Helens blew its top. Bob Plumb Quote
olyclimber Posted September 17, 2005 Posted September 17, 2005 Cool...which direction did you traverse? That would definitely make is memorable (Helens blowing it's top) Quote
L0ngpause Posted September 17, 2005 Posted September 17, 2005 Gyselinck, how about a ski-in during this winter?? I MISS YOU!! Quote
Freeman Posted September 22, 2005 Posted September 22, 2005 A friend climbed in Nightmare Needles for three days many years ago. He said it got real confusing going up the gulleys and trying to figure out just were they were - mostly short fun climbs but losts of work approaching them. He doesn't lurk on this forum but I could forward specific questions to him. Â Off topic - I gained a new respect for old Fred and crew when we tried the Flagpole and got spanked. And Plumbbob's comments about being on the Needles when Helens blew hit home - I was on Triple Couloir and the whole frikkin' mtn avied below us. Didn't feel anything but it was too much of a coincidence. Quote
Rad Posted September 27, 2005 Posted September 27, 2005 What was it that 'spanked' you on the Flagpole? I'd like to get out there.  Did you do the approach described in Nelson? Is it possible to rap off Annapurna?  Flagpole photo  Quote
Kyle_Flick Posted September 27, 2005 Posted September 27, 2005 When Freeman and I tried the Flagpole several years ago, we found the approach, as described in Nelson, intimidating and exposed, not to mention the need to girthhitch the Flagpole's small hangers/bolts. On a second try on the flagpole, friends and I descended off the flagpole and climbed Annapurna. We found the south face of Annapurna to be a mellow two to three pitch climb. You could rap off Annapurna and climb to the base of the Flagpole from the west side. Not sure what to rate the climbing up to the flagpole from that side as I've only rapped it. Quote
Rad Posted September 27, 2005 Posted September 27, 2005 Thanks gents. Very helpful. Â Looks like a fun outing. Alas it will probably have to wait until next season. Quote
cook Posted September 28, 2005 Posted September 28, 2005 Happy bloody birthday craig, if thats what the cake next to your name means. Quote
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