The route description provided measures the distance and elevation gain from the suggested camp location at the two small lakes a mile north of Peak Seven and above Balsam Lake, in the headwaters of Tenmile Creek. If climbed from the Storm King/Peak Nine saddle, the mileage is 1.25 and the elevation gain is reduced to 1,200 feet. We are using the Vallecito and Trinity Creek trails as the primary approach for Peak Seven, but you can also access Peak Seven and this northern group of the Needles by the High Traverse approach that comes in from the basin north of Jagged Mountain. That approach will be noted as a secondary access.
From the two lakes at the suggested campsite, SE and south to the pass just west of Peak Eight with the small tarn located near the top of the pass. (12,740 ft.) This will be a reverse of the final section of "The High Traverse" approach. The lower half of the hike is through a lushly vegetated basin full of wildflowers in the summer. This will give way to a steeper tundra slope and then a series of tundra ledges broken by solid rock walls as you finish the last few hundred feet to the pass. You may find a path leading through here.
If approaching from the Storm King/Peak Nine saddle, descend west down through the rock pile on a trail of sorts that eventually reaches tundra coverage. You will likely want to descend to about 12,500 feet before beginning the contour over to the pass west of Peak Eight. If you try to stay higher, you'll waste a lot of time trying to route find through rock and tundra ledges and other obstacles. There may be a faint trail to help, perhaps created by the goats that roam this area.
Once at the 12,740 ft. saddle, the real ascent of Peak Seven begins. Turn west and begin a steep 300 foot ascent to a saddle between the summit of Peak Seven and a prominent pinnacle on the ridge north of the summit. The saddle is directly west of the tarn at the top of the pass. This will be the easiest part of your ascent with a tundra and rock mix of fairly secure footing. As you near the saddle, you encounter more scree and the angle steepens.
Once at the saddle, turn south and head for the summit along the ridge crest. At times you may want to veer briefly off the ridge crest to either side to avoid problems. In 1994 we found something of a path, but no cairns. The path may have been established by goats. The ridgeline will lead to a notch that is best negotiated on the west side. From below, the notch appears it may present a problem, but it actually only required about a 10 foot downclimb with no real exposure and the rock here was secure. After the notch, the ascending becomes much more difficult. You will find yourself struggling for footing on loose, small, broken rock that slides easily off the underlying rock layers. To make the last 250 feet in elevation to the summit, you'll find yourself fighting for secure footing. This factor, combined with the overall steepness, made the ascent a little more intimidating, though the exposure factor was not that bad. You will likely cut loose a lot of rocks, so bring a helmet.
The summit is the high point of a long, narrow ridge and feels a little exposed. You have an excellent view of the Trinity Peaks and Arrow and Vestal. You can also study the route up Storm King Peak. Back to the south, the north faces of Leviathan and Vallecito present sheer, vertical, impressive cliffs. Also visible is a trail that comes in from the Vestal Creek drainage that crosses a saddle located between Vestal Peak and Trinity West. This trail drops down to the upper Tenmile drainage near the two lakes where our suggested camp location is. For the return, go back down the north ridge as you came and at the saddle, drop east back down to the pass with the small tarn at 12,740 ft. Peak Seven can easily be combined with Storm King Peak for a day climb.
Links to other information, routes & trip reports for this peak that may be helpful.