Page History

<guide>
  <header id="1" name="The Needles" walk="25min uphill" sun="All day sun" rock="Flaky weathered quartzite" acknowledgement="By Tony McKenny" intro="Travelling west towards Lake Pedder and Strathgordon, the white quartzite fingers of the Needles (GR 555696, Tasmap 4426, 1:25 000) stand out starkly on the Humboldt Divide, inevitably catching the eye of any passing climber.  With stunning 360degree views over the South West ranges, from Mt Anne to the south and to Mt Olympus  in the north, the range is a popular destination for  bush walkers but to date nothing seems to have been recorded of any previous rock climbing. The TUMC and TUCC certainly visited the area as have other individuals over the years but details or even any comments on the potential of the area are sketchy to say the least." history="" access="The crags are about 100km from Hobart, about 1hr 30mins drive. From Hobart drive north-west on the Brooker Highway (A10) to New Norfolk and then follow the winding road of B61/B62, passing Mt Field, Tyenna and Maydena.  Park at the Humboldt Divide car park 16.5km past Maydena at the “Highest Point on Road” sign (elevation 651m). The walking track starts across the road directly opposite the sign, by a large cairn. The well trodden track is marked by pink and green ties through low scrub, with an hour’s climb from the road to the summit if you want to go that far - about 400m to the summit (1020m) and a distance of about 1.5km.&lt;br/&gt;The track passes a number of “Needles” on the way, many of which are still to be explored, while away to the east and visible from the first col on the ridge are further impressive cliffs.&lt;br/&gt;Unfortunately The Needles were burnt by the severe fires throughout the SW in the summer of 2019.&lt;br/&gt;" camping="" autonumber="true"/>
  <text class="heading2" id="2">The Thimble</text>
  <text class="text" id="3">The first buttress to be reached at the col (25 mins walk) is the Thimble, a large block of quartzite with a long westerly slab on one side and a shorter wall to the south.</text>
  <image id="13" src="IMG_0109(Thimble)r copy.jpg" height="463" legend="true" legendTitle="The Thimble W Face" legendx="9" legendy="8">
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  <climb id="4" name="Western Slab" stars="" extra="" number="1." length="50m" grade="6" fa="P. Robinson 2012   ">Easy climbing up solid rock, a great introductory route for beginners – or a pleasant ramble for the tyro! Scramble easily down the back to rejoin the main track.</climb>
  <image id="14" src="IMG_1697(The Thimble)r.jpg" height="450" legend="true" legendTitle="The Thimble S Face" legendx="6" legendy="11" width="600">
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  <climb id="5" name="Stitched Up" stars="*" extra="" number="2." length="28m" grade="14" fa="T. McKenny, P. Robinson and S. Scott, Feb 2015. ">Threads a line up the middle off the south face of the Thimble. Start just to the R of a tree towards the RH end of the steep face, climb up and slightly L to follow a direct line to the very top. Thoughtful climbing on generally sound rock with spaced but adequate gear.</climb>
  <climb id="27" stars="" extra="" number="3." name="Stitch 2" length="28m" grade="16" fa="P.Robinson Jan. 2018">The next line right of Stitched Up (see topo).</climb>
  <climb id="28" stars="" extra="" number="4." name="Stitch 3" length="28m" grade="16" fa="P.Robinson   Jan. 2018">The next line right of Stitch 2 (see topo). Through a bulge at the bottom and another high up.</climb>
  <text class="heading2" id="6">Avatar Cliff</text>
  <text class="text" id="7">This large crag across the valley to the east of The Thimble is visible from the col and has a classic line right up the middle with pleasant climbing and great views. From the Thimble, take the easiest line downhill and across the valley through the chest- high melaleuca bushes and button grass clumps on the far side. It is a bit of a roller coaster but only takes 20-25min.</text>
  <image id="15" src="DSC00479Tony&apos;s photo).JPG" height="450" legend="true" legendTitle="Avatar Cliff" legendx="5" legendy="9" width="600">
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  <climb id="8" name="Avatar" stars="*" extra="" number="5." length="65m" grade="16" fa="P.Robinson, C.Rathbone March 2015">Start climbing at the foot of the crag in the middle below a corner which is steeper than it looks. The rock is generally sound but take care.&lt;br/&gt;1. 30m. Climb the short wall R of the cave to reach the corner and follow it straight up to where it steepens (crux). From the ledge, continue up the rock on the L to a comfortable grassy ledge with a tall tea tree.&lt;br/&gt;2. 35m. Up the steep wall for a few metres where the angle eases and follow the face and ridge to the top. Good pro is infrequent but the climbing easier.&lt;br/&gt;</climb>
  <text class="heading2" id="10">Needle Buttress</text>
  <text class="text" id="11">The main track to the Needles summit continues climbing up south from the Thimble and passes close to a prominent needle of rock with a very impressive arête/face.</text>
  <image id="16" src="DSC00486 (1024x768).jpg" height="1024" legend="true" legendTitle="Needle Buttress" legendx="10" legendy="10" width="600">
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  <climb id="12" name="Suture" stars="*" extra="" number="6." length="25m" grade="15" fa="S. Scott, P. Robinson and T. McKenny,  Feb 2015.">Starting at the very toe of the buttress, climb up and over the overlaps, stepping awkwardly R and up at the second one. Up the slabs to the steep finish.</climb>
  <text id="19" class="heading3">Crack Den</text>
  <text id="20" class="text">The series of buttresses and ridges below the Needles summit. Partly viewable from the hiking trail access, walking down from the hiking trail after passing Needle Buttress. The nature of the rock requires some care and consideration, this is part of the experience and participants would be unwise to expect no loose or questionable rock...&lt;br/&gt;It is conceivable and likely that some of these routes were climbed by the original Tasmanians. (yep,TUMC early 1970s-PR)In addition, Phil Robinson reports the ridges here were climbed by TUMC members in the 1970s. Descriptions below not offered as first ascents. Just route descriptions.</text>
  <climb id="21" stars="" extra="" number="7." name="Injection" length="110" grade="9" fa="Tim Whelan, Dave JamesTas Uni Mountaineering club 1970&apos;s">1. 55m. starting on right side of ridge where weakness continues onto easy slabs following ridge as desired.&lt;br/&gt;2. 55m continue up slabs alpine style to col where ridge breaks down and easy scramble take you off ridge towards the east and walk back down.</climb>
  <climb id="26" stars="" extra="" number="8." name="Syringe" length="110m" grade="10" fa="DaveTas JamesUni TimMountaineering Whelan Sept 2020Club 1970&apos;s">Major ridge ~20m right of Injection. Somewhat of a tiny Rysavy Ridge...&lt;br/&gt;1 55m, dicky move onto overlap/ridge then follow slabs. step right into small col to belay at about 50-55m (or else you'll find you need to downclimb a few metres off a little pinnacle.)&lt;br/&gt;2.45m moving right onto slabs and excellent position, navigate upwards.&lt;br/&gt;3. `10m (?) one more little slab then its easy walking up to the summit of the Needles &lt;br/&gt;descend via hiking trail.</climb>
  <image id="25" src="crackden.jpg" height="472" legendTitle="Crack Den" legend="true">
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</guide>