| Why is Spanish Needle a tough trip? Besides the long slog to start to the saddle, and some airy moves near the summit block, there is a nasty traverse. |  | This image at L, as viewed from a "plane" flying on a SW vector to Spanish Needle, shows why the trip is difficult. Google Earth greatly mutes the sharpness of the NW Peak (which has more than 100' of rapping or hairy downclimb), but the image shows the steep gullys that one must cross before going up a chute to the ridge. We probably went one gully too far; but one must cross at least 8 gullys before climbing. |
 We made the long (right track) trip to Spanish Needle on Oct 10, next day did the shorter trip to Lamont. |
 We started off early (6:15AM?) from Chimney Cr Camp. This photo shows the 1st rose glow on Lamont spires |
 Early break. We were mostly in shade; it was 7 miles just to reach the start of the Spanish N. hike! |
 Lamont sprires again. Next day we were just lL of spires |
 Spanish Needle is actually the "lower" peak in middle. |
 View E from saddle, just before the long sidehill across about 7-8 gullys |
 A typical gully crossing. |
 Last loose chute. We should have stayed in previous gully, or just stayed on ridge at L. |
 The summit block appears! There is a significant drop before block. |
 Kathy's view to give scale. I'm in the lower L corner, scouting... |
 The famous slabs -- pretty safe when dry, but you must climb up to them. |
 Leo and Cherry cross the slabs. The orange 100' handline proved useful only as a safety for me when I was spotting others. The tree anchor gives too much chance for a pendulum. |
 This was one of the harder moves: getting down to a pass. |
 Kathy goes down; she will then go to her L to a gnarly-looking but safe class 3 climb on the N side of the mountain (my L, her R). There actually is a keyhole bypass. |
 L to R: Cherry, Peepers, Leo |
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 View SE |
 The step-across -- nowhere as bad as it looks. because of... |
 ...this indentation. |
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 Owens Peak in back. |
 Kathy's better shot |
 Kathy's shot of me. |
 Heading back down. There is a keyhole at base that allows a circuitous avoidance of this climb. |
 View of me coming down the side of slabs after stacking the rope. |
 3 of our friends had just climbed that peak; we heard them above us. |
 Good times! Another gully crossing |
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 Finally back on the PCT, view back to SN ridgeline. |
 Next are 3 boring PCT shots! |
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 Next day we went to Lamont. |
 First I went to class 3 eastern peak, from which I took next 3 photos. |
 I eventually found the register on that peak, which was easier and a bit lower. |
 Technical peak that our friends were going to try. |
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 register on correct peak. |
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 Cherry |
 Peak I was on before |
 Leo praising technical peak |
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 Me, pic by Cherry. |
 Eric, ?? and Jonathan, who brought gear for technical peak |
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 View back, as I head out. |
 Windy road to lower elevation. |