Weaver's Needle FREE SOLO Climb - Superstition Mtns, AZ
Vložit
- čas přidán 31. 12. 2023
- Weaver's Needle is an iconic formation in the Superstition Mountains, which are east of Phoenix, AZ. For most, this is a technical climb with gear but after researching it I thought it would be easy enough to free solo and then rap back down. I was not disappointed! It was like a poor man's version of the Grand Teton climb, but the chimney here did remind me of the Owen Chimney. I started at Peralta trailhead and went up the "standard" way on the west side.
Check out my other hikes in the Superstitions:
Flatiron and Peak 5024: • Flatiron Hike -- Super...
Superstition Ridgeline and Superstition Peak 5057: • Superstition Ridgeline...
Reverse Flatiron: • Reverse Flatiron (Supe...
Massacre Grounds: • Massacre Grounds Water...
Battleship: • Battleship Mountain - ...
Black Top Mesa: • Black Top Mesa (Supers...
Herman's Cave/Miner's Needle: • Herman's Cave and Mine...
Picketpost: • Picketpost Mountain --...
Peralta Trail/Geronimo Cave: • Peralta Trail and Gero... - Sport
Did that same route in the Spring of 1978 - as I recall, we scrambled *around the outside* of the big "chock stone" (we had protection).
Thanks for the "Blast from my Past" !
nice!
I always wanted to climb weavers needle and never did. Now, after having not climbed in so long, I don't think I have the nerve anymore. Good on you. I enjoyed watching.
thanks for watching and for the kind words!
SO much fun watching your ascent. It's been many long years since I got up there with a group from C.A.M.R.A. I think we went around the right side of the chock stone, but the rest of the climb is just a scramble. Easily one of the finest experiences in Arizona, if you're up to the challenge. The view is outstanding. ❤👍😊
thanks for watching!
Awesome climb! Definitely look into a prusik aka "third hand" for rappelling to add an extra safety margin. It is especially useful for moments like you experienced where you are fixing a big knot on your rappel line. Stay safe!
yeah i know! I don't rap that often, but I realize I should take some more precautions. None of my raps are that high either
It's been a childhood dream to summit Weaver's needle.
Thanks for taking us there.
My dad would have loved to seen this video.
thanks for the kind words
Whenever I pass by Weaver's, I always think what it would be like to get on top. Probably never will (climbing just isn't my thing) but thanks for showing us the way. You have some good vids, it'll take me awhile to get through them.
thank you! Yeah I have a lot and always adding more! Let me know if you ever have any questions on anything
@@HikingEngineer Thanks, will do.
insane in the membrane..........glad you have the skills bro. incredible climb.
That was great! Those views from the top! Wow! 😮
Such a great video thanks for sharing. Views look like the best of all the Superstitions. I love hiking around that area but haven't gone up past the base of weavers. Cheers!
thanks! It's a great hike/climb! Hopefully some of my other videos can help you too!
Your hiking prolifictness is awesome! Subscribed! Keep up the great work!
thank you!! I have quite a lot of hard hikes on the channel so glad you found it!
@@HikingEngineer For sure! I'll definitely be using them for getting beta on a few hikes i'm planning on in CO this year!
@@eXpeditionAnthony I got 12 more 14ers left and will be finishing them this upcoming summer! I have videos up on 42 of the 46 I've done, but Longs/Pikes/Quandary/Sneffels were before I started recording
I did the 5.7 trad climb that's on the other side for my 35th birthday.
nice! although I thought the east side was just class 3/4 and the class 5 route was the west side? Or did you mean some other approach?
@HikingEngineer once you get into class 5, then it's traditional rock climbing grades. The west route is definitely a solid 5.7. It can be free soloed, but that last 20 feet before the saddle is pretty vertical and with small holds. But if you can take the exposure the face climb to the left of that the holds are bigger but it is highly highly exposed.
That hike in there is brutal. I did it with 80 pounds of gear on my back in the beginning of October.
@@jamiedubois5052 yeah that steep slope up wouldn't be fun with a heavy pack, at least it isn't that long
Wow nice hike and climb! Love it out there. Going tomorrow but not gonna be climbing.
it's a fun lil climb if you ever do it!
Love this! Super good job!!!
thanks!
Never been close to Weaver's Needle, but I always assumed in was a solid rock spire. This is a small mountain. Back in the late '80's there was a brief incident in which a movie company wanted to literally blow up the needle for a big-budget adventure movie starring Vanna White. The story swept through the news very quickly, and I don't think the movie ever got made.
I'm not claiming it's a mountain or a big mountain...it's just a well known rock formation that is fun to climb
Nice!! We just admire it from afar, great video!
thanks! you should climb it!
Did this one like 20 years ago, so cool!
for some reason I always thought it was more technical, so a couple weeks ago I finally researched it and just went and did it
Inspired by your videos. Thanks man!
thanks for the kind words! I hike a lot so gotta plenty of stuff so hopefully some it helps you out!
Wow, congrats on that one! I free soloed it from the east a few years ago, you're the first one I've seen who free soloed from the west. One of my all time fave peaks.
Let me know if you're ever interested in climbing Courthouse Rock and/or Eagle Feather in the Eagletail Mountains. I've wanted to find a partner for those for some time.
I'm always down to tag team a peak with you! Just need to figure out how our schedules align! I have my 100k on Jan 13, so most likely taking it easy until then, but after I'm down
Incredible, you blow my mind.
thanks I guess? ha
As someone who gets scared of class 3s these are always fun to watch. Would love to see views looking down on (or amongst) some jagged rocks in person someday!
where do you live?
@@HikingEngineer North county, San Diego! I'm about 3 hours from the CA/AZ border
@@jd.1184 nice, I have a handful of SD area videos on my channel, I'm sure you've done them all although North Iron (class 5), Gaskill/Lawson involve some scrambling
Great adventure.
I've developed a fear of heights over time which sucks. While living in Colorado in 1993 I seen a free solo guy fall 200 ft.at Garden of Gods. I just by chance looked in his direction and seen him in mid-fall. I thought I was seeing things at first. But no it was real. He died.
that's crazy!
Well done dude!
thanks! it was fun
Sweeeet. I think I heard on another video that you lived in FL before. Would love to get a shout out for the florida gators on your next video!
i believe i gave an indirect shoutout in a Hawaii video when I said "Go Utes!". But i will try to work something else in
aw how cute, a baby mountain
sorry my man -- not sure what you are looking for. I've done most of the 14ers in CO and finishing them this week, have done Rainier, Hood, Adams, St Helens, Whitney 5x, Muir, Langley, and many other high peaks. I'll be doing Blanc and Matterhorn in early August. Aside from bagging the 8000m peaks, which I won't be doing, what are you looking for? I'm a hiker not a mountaineer
Nice man! Consider a stopper knot at the bottom of your rope though :)
yeah that's probably a good idea! but then could I still sing the song?
Some of those moves looked a little spicy.
there was one section up higher in the chimney which was a bit above just an easy trivial class 5 climb, other than that I felt pretty comfortable. When the holds aren't good is when it starts to feel spicy for me
I've seen the movie free solo, this is hiking.
it's not hiking, there is climbing involved. I don't think you know the definition of free solo. I also am not claiming to have climbed El Cap or that i'm a badass like Alex H lol
SICK .
thanks!
I met a guy who died while climbing in superstition mtns. He had to be identified by his teeth. Be careful out there.
You met a guy who died?
@@hantlayou died a guy you met?
@@progradepainting3755you guy’d a died who met?
Wow your very good climber/hiker.
i try! thanks
Knowing how the rock is an AZ I wouldn’t feel comfortable grabbing on to anything with how’s crumbly everything is.
I would say the rock was in general pretty solid on this route. Lots of good holds in most places aside from the crux where it got pretty vertical with small holds for about 20'
Great route, looked tough, glad the rock seemed solid. Would you have felt comfortable down climbing without the repel device and using the rope just as more of a hand line?
honestly yes, and I thought about doing that but never mentioned it in the video
@@HikingEngineer Its pretty doable as a down-climb, as I am sure you determined, I thought the final bit to the ground required the most attention, but oddly enough Phoenix Rock only calls that "pitch" c4, lol.
@@lrchandllr1 I would not have felt comfortable downclimbing the 30 feet or so below the chockstone, but I guess in a life or death situation I would be able to get down safely. I've heard/read the east side is just class 4 so doable with no rope down
Is this the spire south of the 87? I always look out to it when I'm driving back to Payson. Unless that's a different one
you can see it briefly from 87 (easier when driving south and look to your left)
@@HikingEngineer okay yeah, true.
"Chose wisely" or "guessed luckily"?
chose wisely ;)
Sick 5.2 solo.
huh? it's not a hard solo but it's harder than 5.2
I can see these mountains from my front porch, not the needle but the mountain range.
Nice! Do you hike in the sups often
@@HikingEngineer I used to. I was paralyzed while working as a heavy machine operator for a mining company here in Mesa about 5 years ago. My accident happened at the Drake mine located at Higley and the 202. My hiking days are behind me but I very much enjoyed watching your video, it’s like I’m going on the hike right there with you except I am doing it from my room in the AC! 😂
@@Sumofabish keep your head up! hopefully my videos help you live vicariously through me
Bad ass
thanks man
Yeah those mountains are crumbly
@24:59 Where is Waldo
turns out no one was there, just a sleeping bag
Nice vid but you need some rope training. God knot needed without the rats nest.
yeah haha I never know how to fold up/carry the rope. My rope is always a mess, I only use it like once a year if that
Looks like mostly class 3 with a few class 4 moves. Not much exposure and easy climbing.
there are definitely class 5 sections -- particularly getting up the chimney over halfway up. But other than that is mostly class 4. I think depending where you look it's either 5.4, 5.5, or 5.6. I tend to underrate climbs and say it was class 3 when it's 4, or say it's 4 when it's 5, but there definitely was a vertical wall that was class 5!
@@HikingEngineer ok 5.5 at chockstone and class 4.
@@mrgrork yes that's about right!
You're talking too much, holms
my bad lol, that's the point to narrate the hikes/climbs!
Names of landmarks are so fucking lame. Like a 10 year old named them all.
Well the gold miners had mercury poisoning so