What a weird year in the Northwest: perfect warm June weather in the Olympics, negligible snow: only 40 feet of bypassable snow in the approach gully to Cruiser. Climbing the day before the solstice allowed us to play around on the standard South Corner 5.0, plus the 5.7 West-Southwest route and the very cool Needle (5.2?).

The West-Southwest route is really just 5.6 if you pick your line well, from the very top/left end of the flake, and actually protects OK without hunting for the invisible purported bolts.

Check out the tiny, overhung summit block on the Needle! Well worth the thin pro (mostly slung horns) to get there.

Thanks to a great crew of old-timers and one young buck for a very pleasent outing, especially to Thomas Dodson for his assist!

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