Full Report on Merely A Flesh Wound

Date: 8/6/2025
Partner: Brian Jozefat
Start: Pitkin Creek TH
End: Top of CR1378 - Private Gate Accessed Neighborhood
Distance: 15.2mi
Elevation Gain:7700ft
Elevation Drop: 6800ft
Duration: 16hrs 40min
Summits:
* Skier's Point
* Climber's Point
* Solitude Peak
* Vista Peak
* X Prime
* Peak X
* Peak Y
* Peak Z
* Bloodshaw Mountain

Traversing the Gore has always been a special experience. There is something cool about starting and ending the day in what seem to be different worlds. This was my fourth time traversing from east to west and it did not disappoint.

The plan started as a vanilla XYZ Z Prime traverse from Pitkin (which is far from vanilla btw). Then I thought it would be cool to add the Solitude Massif to the mix. No harm in making the day little bigger and spending more time up high right?

Then BOOM!!! My buddy Fitch reminded me that our mutual friend Mitch had just purchased a house on the private side of the Boulder Creek Road gate. When Mitch gave us the thumbs up to set a shuttle, Bloodshaw was added to the itinerary and a full traverse from Pitken to Mitch's place.

The night before the traverse we dropped Brian's car at Mitch's house. We were walking from Pitken at 4:30am the next morning.

It took us 4 hours to summit Skiers point but had already tackled 60% of the day's vertical.

The quality scrambling started when we reached Usable Pass. The ridges from Usable Pass to X Prime and all the way to Bloodshaw were amazing. Fun, challenging, navigational scrambling on solid rock.

Usable Pass to X Prime and the ridge from X Prime to X was probably the most challenging of the day. The descent off of X was spicy and navigational. XYZ didn't let up too much.

The LONG 1.5 mile ridge from Peak Z to Bloodshaw was also fun and somewhat easier at class 3/4 with optional low 5. We skipped a good portion of the low 5 as it was late in the day and the clock was ticking.

Bloodshaw's summit was absolutely stunning with views of the Partner Traverse, the QRST ridge, Ripsaw Ridge, Peak L, etc. etc.

We were super thankful for Mitch letting us set a shuttle. If you can't swing a Boulder Creek shuttle, I would suggest Rock Creek as the next best east side endpoint. While this would add miles and vertical to an already big day... skipping the Solitude Massif would be a good compromise. The ridge between Peak Z and Bloodshaw is worth it.