View The Needles in a larger map
What: A bushwhack with cliffy bits and nice views as a reward.
Where: The Needles (South, Middle and North) are located along a ridge between the Lynn and Seymour Rivers in North Vancouver, BC.
| Difficulty: |
5/5 |
route is not marked. Bushwhack. |
| Runnability: |
1/5 |
Some runnable sections on LSCR trail. |
| Peak view: |
5/5
|
Unobstructed views of surrounding peaks, city, ocean |
| Scenery: |
4/5 |
Old growth, second growth forests. Rivers. |
| Children: |
0/5 |
Not recommended |
| Dogs: |
3/5 |
Minimal water on access trails. |
Route overview: The Middle Needle is best approached from the South Needle. Rough. Little to no flagging. Several sections where folks with a fear of heights will feel uncomfortable
Trip distance: From the South Needle, roughly 3 kilometers.
Trip time: From the South Needle, budget 3-6 hours out and back. This assumes some contingency for getting lost.
Safety:
- Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
- GPS spotty under tree cover
- No emergency shelters in the area. Help at the entrance to LSCR near gazebo.
- Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.
Name Origin: Unknown.
Headwaters for: Not applicable, as this is a steep ridge.
Getting there: The Middle Needle can be reached from North Needle via Patton Peak and South Needle. Both routes are very difficult. Access from South is recommended as less difficult.
Route Details: The route to the Middle Needle is seldom traveled.
The descent to the col between the South and Middle Needles is not at all obvious from the South Needle. Head straight north (not east, as some Internet reports state). Although it looks steep, it is less steep than the sheer drops to the west and east. It is essentially a slow descent along a series of ledges -- hold tight to the scraggly pines and blueberry bushes and gingerly lower yourself down ledge-by-ledge. It is mossy and slippery and you could do yourself harm without care. The terrain changes to a mere slope, and then you bushwhack down through blueberry bushes to the base of the col.
Then the climb up Middle Needle. One hits a rocky bluff pretty soon. A careful choice of hand-holds and branches makes the ascent not so bad. Some more bushwhacking up through blueberry bushes to the false summit, and then across a short ridge to the true summit.
Neighboring peaks:
- Bagger Challenge peaks Lynn Peak, South Needle and North Needle are relatively close
Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar
More information:
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