Needles (Black Hills)

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The Needles
Pitches
1 to 4
Grades5.0-5.13
Rock typegranite, pegmatite
Quantity of rockyears worth ( 2,000 summits)
Developmentwell developed
Cliff aspectmixed mainly traditional climbing
Seasonspring to fall
OwnershipState park
Campingnone
Stars
A climber ascends spire nine in The Needles
A roadside needle

The Needles of the

limber pine, was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1976.[2]

The Needles were the original site proposed for the Mount Rushmore carvings. The location was rejected by the sculptor Gutzon Borglum owing to the poor quality of the granite and the fact that they were too thin to support the sculptures. The Needles attract approximately 300,000 people annually.

Climbing

Black Hills Badlands National Park
Southwestern South Dakota
Sculptures
Geologic and natural history
Mountains
Caves
Forests and wildernesses
Lakes
Scenic byways
Historic sites

In 1936

5.12a route on The Thimble which is considered one of the first climbs at that grade and still is a formidable challenge.[6][7] In 1991 John Sherman also made a free solo ascent of Gill's Route.[8]

Classic climbs

  • Spire Two,
    5.3
  • Innercourse,
    5.5
  • Rum Room,
    5.7
  • Tent Peg,
    5.7
  • Tricuni Nail,
    5.8
  • Trojan Determination,
    5.8
  • Behind The Door,
    5.9
  • Four Little Fishes,
    5.9
  • Hardrocker,
    5.9
  • Needle's Eye,
    5.10-
  • Nentucket Sleigh Ride,
    5.10
  • Superpin,
    5.10b R
  • Farewell to Arms,
    5.10+
  • For Whom the Bell Tolls,
    5.11a
  • Limited Immunity,
    5.11b
  • Vertigo,
    5.11
  • Leaning Jowler,
    5.12a
  • Walking the Plankton,
    5.12b
  • Thimble,
    5.12a
  • Outlet CG Boulders
Map of the Needles by climbing and caving pioneers Jan and Herb Conn.

References

  1. ISBN 978-0934641357
    .
  2. ^ "National Natural Landmarks - National Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2019-03-25. Year designated: 1976
  3. ^ "Custer State Park Rock Climbing". Mountain Project. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  4. ^ deLannoy, Pete (March 1, 2006). "The Needles". Alpinist (15). Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  5. ISBN 9781892540560
    .
  6. YouTube
  7. ^ "The Thimble Rock Climbing". Mountain Project. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  8. ISBN 9780930410629
    .


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