Ascent Notes for: Southwest crack - 5.6 Average Rating : 5.00/5

Best climb on the needle.

and ya...don't shake the top.

This is Devil's Lake rating. Stick to the guidebook. Beautiful view @ the top, and NO, no need to shake the top boulder, we don't need to hurry its fall (and that of a couple of stupids clipped onto the ring). Think before you write careless stuff like that.

Soloed this side then went up the5.4

Took us forever to find this thing. I was expecting to come to an overlook and instantly see the top of the needle, but it was hidden by all the trees. We wasted alot of sweat hiking all around looking, finally figured out where the ampitheater was and found the base of the Needle. Barely beat a guided group of kids that had hogged a route we wanted to do the previous day.

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Im sure a fall on this route would not have been clean, the needle is kinda blocky. Pro was spaced out, and I was asking myself if it was worth it. But the 1964 rap ring is oh so bomber. (unlike the top block)

Eventually, this thing will tumble. It's not even a very good climb, but anyone who leads at Devil's Lake will eventually do it, because it's just such a cool looking rock formation. And yes, you do have to shake the top boulder when you get up. I wonder if anybody has ever climbed it a second time.