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adventerous arete beautiful bouldery classic confusing contrived crimpy dihedral dynamic exposed fingers fists fun hands juggy long offwidth pile pinches pockets pumpy runout scary shady sharp short slopey steep stout sunny technical vertical
COVID-19 Climbing Guidelines: The Red River Gorge in the Daniel Boone National Forest, Muir Valley, and all RRGCC-owned property - which includes Miller Fork Recreational Preserve, Bald Rock Recreational Preserve, and Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve - request that you follow the guidelines outlined on each website if you choose to climb during this time. See links above for more details about each climbing area.

Veldhaus Route

This route is located in the Eastern Gorge Region at Funk Rock City

 Sparky Goes Crack Climbing

14.
+0
0 votes

Eye of the Needle 5.11b (Sport) ****

First Ascent: Tim Powers, Neal Strickland in 1992
Length: 85ft
Bolts: 10 (report bad bolts/anchors)

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Walk around the corner from Veldhaus Route to locate this bolted arete just left of a wide dihedral.
Moves: Bouldery or Technical
Descent: Cold shuts
Stays Dry: Does not stay dry
Owner: NFS: Clifty Wilderness Area
Steepness:

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Quality Consensus
 

4.34 stars (97 votes)
Grade Consensus
5.11b (81 votes)

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Submitted by: donargento
Date: Dec 19th, 2011

Submitted by: Dman
Date: Feb 3rd, 2009

Submitted by: ray
Date: Dec 18th, 2005

Comments

16 comments {add your own comments}
1
rdpoints said on April 20th, 2005
Classic
2
V10Mike said on May 2nd, 2008
Staying absolutely true to the arete from the ground up is significantly harder. Use the crack on the right for the first couple clips to keep it a reasonable 5.11
3
Lander said on May 3rd, 2008
the route was originally climbed and rated based on using the right crack to get to the first bolt. btw, the second bolt was originally the first bolt! the current first bolt was added later.
4
michaelarmand said on June 23rd, 2008
Great climb, love the technical!
5
heavyc said on September 24th, 2008
one of the best 11's in the Red
6
Jrodan said on September 28th, 2008
The "eye" is currently inhabited by flying squirrels.
7
FujManiac said on October 16th, 2008
there are actually two eyes...
8
bcombs said on October 27th, 2008
Super good
9
Dman said on January 4th, 2009
i agree one of the best classic for sure
10
Jeff said on March 22nd, 2011
Re bolted, chain anchors.
11
dustonian said on March 23rd, 2011
Nice work Jeff, love this route!
12
Chuckdott said on October 11th, 2011
Although it sounds like the route was intended to use the crack, the left arrete has by far the most interesting moves on the route up to the first "eye" at the 3rd bolt. If you like technical slab I highly recommend avoiding the crack all together.
13
der uber said on October 15th, 2012
Super fun as you transition towards and climb the arete. Thought the middle was tricky.
14
Chiyram said on September 21st, 2015
5 Star route! Definitely want to use the crack for the first 2 or 3 bolts if you want to climb an 11b.
15
slander said on April 4th, 2016
Total classic. Not using the crack down low makes it a harder route (11c, maybe low d) but was my favorite movement on the whole thing.
16
thermalfissions said on April 4th, 2016
Using the crack makes this route feel 11a at best, staying on the arete at the start is probably harder than 11b. You can climb the slab, the arete or the face at the top for an easy, moderate or hard finish respectively. Whatever line you choose, great route.