Needles (Black Hills)

Needles climbing

The Needles, South Dakota, United States
Map showing the location of Needles climbing
Nearest city Custer, South Dakota
Range Black Hills
Coordinates 43°50′28″N 103°32′40″W / 43.84111°N 103.54444°W / 43.84111; -103.54444
Climbing type traditional face and crack climbing and bouldering[1]
Height 500 feet
Pitches 1 to 4
Grades 5.0-5.13
Rock type granite, pegmatite
Quantity of rock years worth ( 2,000 summits)
Development well developed
Cliff aspect mixed mainly traditional climbing
Season spring to fall
Ownership State park
Camping none
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
Stars


Map of the Needles by climbing and caving pioneer Herb Conn.

The Needles of the Black Hills of South Dakota are a region of eroded granite pillars, towers, and spires within Custer State Park. Popular with rock climbers and tourists alike, the Needles are accessed from the Needles Highway, which is a part of Sylvan Lake Road (SD 87/89). The Cathedral Spires and Limber Pine Natural Area, a 637-acre portion of the Needles containing six ridges of pillars as well as a disjunct stand of 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

The area has a rich history of bold climbing by greatest climbers of their era, and has long been known for its purist ethics. In 1936 Fritz Wiessner climbed the Totem Pole[3][4] and in 1937 Khayyam Spire with Bill House and Lawrence Coveney. In 1947 Jan and Herb Conn moved to the area and over the next couple decades put up over 220 first ascents.[5] In 1952 Fred Beckey and John Dudra climbed Rubaiyat Spire and Khayyam Spire. In the 1960s climbers such as Royal Robbins, and Henry Barber put up many bold routes. In 1961 John Gill made free solo ascent of class 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 the 1970s and 1980s many climbs were added by local and non-local climbers, such as Paul Muehl, John Page, Brent Kertzman, Paul Piana, Todd Skinner, Kevin Bein, Bob Kamps, Mike Engle, Mark Jacobs, Bob Archbold and Pete Delonney.[3] In 1991 John Sherman also made a free solo ascent of Gill's Route.[8] Today climbers still hold true to the ground up ethics put in place in the late 80s. Bold new routes are still being added.

References

  1. ↑ Toula, Tim (1995). Rock 'n' Road (1st ed.). Falcon. ISBN 978-0934641357.
  2. ↑ "Cathedral Spires and Limber Pine Natural Area". National Park Service. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  3. 1 2 "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. ↑ Stephens, Lindsay (2008). The Adventure Climbs of Herb and Jan Conn. Boulder, CO: Sharp End Pub., LLC. ISBN 9781892540560.
  6. ↑ Gill Route on the Thimble on YouTube
  7. ↑ "The Thimble Rock Climbing". Mountain Project. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  8. ↑ Sherman, John (1994). Stone crusade : a historical guide to bouldering in America (1st ed.). Golden, Colo.: AAC Press. ISBN 9780930410629.
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