Thanks! I just hadn't had anything to post in a long time! It's been a really busy semester...I haven't had much free time. I'm still thinking about a Sandias page...maybe after I collect some more photos to get a good 'picture' of the range...:)
In my honest opinion the east saddle ridge is sandbagged and should be rated in the lower fifth class rating i.e. 5.2 to 5.4. Be prepared for this when you attempt to access the needle, harder then the 4th class rating given to it in the early 70's.
Thanks for your opinion on this! I completely agree (my friend and I attempted it). For the main page I had decided to go with the traditional rating since that is what has been published. My plan was to go back and finish the route, post a page for the route, and describe what I think is the better rating there rather than on the main page. But maybe I'll make a note about it on the main page. Thanks!
What kind of pro would I need for this route? I'd rather not free climb this route and I'd definitely want to rap back down. Any info would help. Thanks.
I think a regular rack would suffice - a set of cams, a set of nuts, and maybe a few tri-cams and hexes. The route is winding, so bring plenty of shoulder length slings. The climbing is not difficult, but it is fairly exposed at various junctures. There is a lot of mix between rock, and rock mixed with pine needles. The pine needle sections can be loose. We tried rapping the route, but it is really awkward with the way the mountain slopes...so we wound up down-climbing most of it and rapping the last pitch which you can do by finding a ledge with a tree and rappel sling just south of the top of the first pitch. Again, we did not do the last pitch because we ran out of time, but it was a ridge with loose blocks and we didn't know how secure the pro would be.
Bubba Suess - Jun 16, 2008 11:51 am - Voted 10/10
Glad you are back!Good to see you posting stuff again! You really need to do a Sandia Mountains page...
hans.schenk - Jun 16, 2008 4:48 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Glad you are back!Thanks! I just hadn't had anything to post in a long time! It's been a really busy semester...I haven't had much free time. I'm still thinking about a Sandias page...maybe after I collect some more photos to get a good 'picture' of the range...:)
Dan the Jones - Dec 12, 2008 8:17 pm - Voted 10/10
rating adjustment -In my honest opinion the east saddle ridge is sandbagged and should be rated in the lower fifth class rating i.e. 5.2 to 5.4. Be prepared for this when you attempt to access the needle, harder then the 4th class rating given to it in the early 70's.
hans.schenk - Dec 15, 2008 5:35 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: rating adjustment -Thanks for your opinion on this! I completely agree (my friend and I attempted it). For the main page I had decided to go with the traditional rating since that is what has been published. My plan was to go back and finish the route, post a page for the route, and describe what I think is the better rating there rather than on the main page. But maybe I'll make a note about it on the main page. Thanks!
davebobk47 - May 19, 2009 12:06 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: rating adjustment -What kind of pro would I need for this route? I'd rather not free climb this route and I'd definitely want to rap back down. Any info would help. Thanks.
hans.schenk - May 26, 2009 8:06 am - Hasn't voted
Re: rating adjustment -I think a regular rack would suffice - a set of cams, a set of nuts, and maybe a few tri-cams and hexes. The route is winding, so bring plenty of shoulder length slings. The climbing is not difficult, but it is fairly exposed at various junctures. There is a lot of mix between rock, and rock mixed with pine needles. The pine needle sections can be loose. We tried rapping the route, but it is really awkward with the way the mountain slopes...so we wound up down-climbing most of it and rapping the last pitch which you can do by finding a ledge with a tree and rappel sling just south of the top of the first pitch. Again, we did not do the last pitch because we ran out of time, but it was a ridge with loose blocks and we didn't know how secure the pro would be.
Garon Coriz - Jan 4, 2014 1:36 pm - Voted 10/10
Hitch of Interactive MapFor some reason The Needle is placed south of I-40 on the interactive map. Is there a way to fix it?
hans.schenk - Jan 5, 2014 5:52 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Hitch of Interactive MapThanks Garon for letting me know. I fixed it. I don't know what was going on with that!