Summited both Needle and Peak via standard routes (no traverse) as a day hike from Cottonwood Creek. This makes for a long day but is doable if you're fast and the weather holds up. As others have noted conditions on the approach trail seem to have improved over the past years. First few miles are clear and easily navigable by headlamp. Last mile or so is steeper with a bit of route finding and some bushwhacking but I didn't feel this slowed me down too much. Overall this seemed like a good alternative to the South Colony Lakes approach especially if you don't want to deal with the 4wd road, with less total mileage and no need to regain Broken Hand Pass after summiting the Peak.
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