"Haystack" Couloir - West Needle - Great name, great climb

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GeorgiaTyler
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"Haystack" Couloir - West Needle - Great name, great climb

Post by GeorgiaTyler »

What a fun snow climb in an unbelievable basin in mid June. We bushwacked up twilight creek and it was as a classic route with perfect conditions. Recommend this peak to all and a pretty moderate pitch on the couloir. West Needle 13,062 - Twilight Group
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TakeMeToYourSummit
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Re: "Haystack" Couloir - West Needle - Great name, great cli

Post by TakeMeToYourSummit »

Photo 3 alone makes this look awesome... (1 & 2 are pretty nice too :D )
Lime Creek approach?

*Edit* I see where TC hits LC...
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Re: "Haystack" Couloir - West Needle - Great name, great cli

Post by SarahT »

How did you access Twilight Creek? Is it possible to cross Lime Creek somewhere? I have wondered about this for a long time.
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GeorgiaTyler
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Re: "Haystack" Couloir - West Needle - Great name, great cli

Post by GeorgiaTyler »

Crossing lime was the most dangerous part of our trip, super sketchy and high consequence. I found another spot to cross that was easier on the return trip but it took me a while to find it. The water levels should be lower here in a bit, so should be easier, but if you want the spot that I crossed where it was safer let me know and i'll get you directions. Great route to an AMAZING couple of basins
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Re: "Haystack" Couloir - West Needle - Great name, great cli

Post by UncleMatt »

Hey Georgia,
I sent you an email about ascending Twilight Creek. Can you please let me know where the safe place to cross Lime Creek was that you located? I would also love to see more photos if you have them. Thanks!
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Re: "Haystack" Couloir - West Needle - Great name, great cli

Post by GeorgiaTyler »

i'll get you those pictures this week, also the safe spot to cross lime. (if a heavy runoff when you climb).
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Re: "Haystack" Couloir - West Needle - Great name, great cli

Post by Chicago Transplant »

We went up this couloir a few years ago, but figured the Lime/Twilight approach would not work so well, plus we had other couloirs we wanted to climb that made Crater Lake a better base camp option for us. Glad this approach worked out for you!

If interested, you can get to West Needle from Crater Lake by traversing around the Twilights and descended to the base of the Haystack Couloir from the saddle on the PT 12932 side of the unnamed tower between it and S Twilight. I have a TR if you are interested in that approach.
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