Nature of Hike
Needle Peak is in fact a very short hike and straight climb right off the bat. The vehicles are parked at a pull over zone near new construction. There seemed to be wasp nests in the beginning which I survived. The views open up after 1km of hike and beautiful North Cascades can be seen mid-way. Yak Peak is right in front and with gorgeous lush mountains creating a perfect backdrop of Yak.
Needle peak must be climbed anytime from June to before end of September and novice climbers must refrain from climbing it in Winter since the winds on Coquihalla and frozen rock of Needle is the perfect recipe for a disaster. On my hike, the only people I saw on this hike were three aboriginal men standing near a plaque/memorial as the hike clears up towards Flatiron mountain before approaching the Summit push. I started the hike at 2PM which is late considering I had not intention to camp anywhere. So, the time was short.
As you’d turn left onto the col from the memorial and climb about 100 meters from South Face side, there is a tricky section right in the beginning. I decided to leave my bag there because I sensed if there is grade 4 climb in the beginning, the summit push is going to be long and technical. After climbing this class 4 section, you reach the ridge which is easy class 2 until you reach the base of the Needle.
At the base of the needle, there are some 40 feet rocks stacked on top of each other and these boulders seem to be susceptible to slip and fall. From here, it took me a while and a coin flip to decide some route finding. Over the years, it has become my habit to remember the ascending route, looking back and remember the formation of the rocks to descend the Summit. Despite having this practice, one can very well forget which way they came up.
Near the Summit, you’d find more wasps. Needle Peak West Ridge is class 3 climb, South Face class 3, Northeast Ridge class 4, and Southeast Buttress class 5.9. From my personal experience, I kept moving around the south face sometimes to South East, sometimes to South and sometimes to West. While the hike to Needle Peak is relatively short, the steep scramble near the summit can be treacherous when snow-covered, making it suitable only for capable mountaineers during the short hiking season from late June to October.
The unpredictable weather of the Coquihalla Summit, with frequent clouds and powerful winds, adds to the adventure. I would not recommend this hike on a rainy day, as the scramble involves many slippery rocks. Even on a cloudy day, caution is advised.
Many hikers combine Needle Peak with the Flatiron for a longer day trip, and camping at the lake beneath the Flatiron is a popular option. The experience of climbing Needle Peak was unforgettable, and I highly recommend it to confident hikers seeking a thrilling adventure with stunning views.
