East Partner Peak Trip Report 08/03/2010

Peak(s):	"East Partner Peak" - 13,057 feet "West Partner Peak" - 13,058 feet
Date Posted:	08/03/2010
Date Climbed:	07/31/2010
Author:	jbchalk

Partner Traverse
In trying to take advantage of the wonderful Gore Range in our backyard and link up a few more of these little-known traverses, my buddies J, Steve, Caleb (RoanMtnMan) & I set out for Pitkin Lake friday afternoon with the intentions of climbing East & West Partner Peaks (Peaks "V" & "U") and linking the traverse between the two peaks. After some rain on the 4.5 mile pack into Pitkin Lake, we dried things out at camp with the help of a campfire. Pitkin Lake & the surrounding basin are gorgeous and while we could have done this trip in a long day, we opted to spend 2 nights in Pitkin basin to enjoy some camping. We began hiking around 6:15am on Saturday up East Partner's standard south ridge (mostly class 3 with maybe a few class 4 moves). The ridge was very fun and we topped out around 7:45am. Camp at Pitkin Lake (11,400') East Partner Peak (13,057') from Pitkin Lake Me on East Partner's south ridge before the class 3 rock begins J & Steve starting up East Partner's class 3 rock on the south ridge J & Steve on East Partner's south ridge J getting ready to cross a mini knife-edge on East Partner's south ridge J & Steve before the mini knife-edge Steve on the mini knife-edge East Partner Peak summit (13,057) The traverse to West Partner Peak We then started the traverse over to West Partner Peak. There were many initial towers to climb up and over coming down off East Partner's west ridge which did not exactly make the climbing "fast" by any means. However, the rock is solid, for the most part, and there were some exciting downclimbs with decent exposure. I would say most of the climbing on the 1st half of this traverse from East Partner is class 3 with some class 4 moves. We stayed on the ridge proper for the most part unless a cliff blocked a descent and we had to find a way around. J downclimbing an exposed section to the next notch while descending East Partner's west ridge J climbing up and over another tower Me on the traverse This saddle almost represents the halfway point on the traverse and is about the only "easy" terrain on the entire Caleb was not feeling well due to a likely stomach bug, so he descended from the saddle between East & West Partner Peaks back to our camp at Pitkin Lake to rest. The real difficulties occured after the saddle and the 2nd half of the traverse on the ascent up to West Partner Peak. The climbing involved many exposed initial downclimbs and then some tricky traverses/upclimbs around and up several towers. I would say most of the climbing is class 3/4 with some potential low 5th class moves and all pretty exposed. J climbing with Caleb on top of the last tower right before he descended back to camp J & Steve downclimbing into a notch on some low 5th class rock Steve downclimbing into another notch Me climbing another tower out of the notch Steve on an exposed traverse on the ridge proper to the top of another tower Me slipping thru a crack we used to traverse to the next tower Finally, we get on easier terrain on West Partner's southeast slopes (East Partner & the traverse in the background) After the majority of the traverse and the real difficulties behind us, we hopped on West Partner's standard south ridge route and followed the fun class 3/4 ridge to the summit. I think we topped out around 10:45am yielding a traverse time of about 2 3/4 hours. J & Steve climbing down into a notch on West Partner's south ridge J & Steve climbing up and out of the notch on the south ridge The remaining portion of West Partner's south ridge to the summit West Partner Peak summit (13,041') We then retraced our steps back down West Partner's south ridge for some distance past where we hopped on the south ridge from the traverse. After some fun "easy" scrambling down lower on West Partner's long south ridge, we exited left (east) and made our way back down to our camp at Pitkin Lake. We found Caleb feeling better after he took a nap and we had a great afternoon and evening of swimming and fishing as well as a raging campfire that evening. The rain held off the entire day and night. Heading back down the lower part of West Partner's south ridge (Pitkin Lake below) The Partner Traverse on the descent of West Partner's south ridge. The most difficult sections are in the center (East P Close-up of the most difficult sections of the traverse on the West Partner half of the traverse Caleb showing us how its done Nothing like a refreshing dunk into an alpine lake A great weekend with my buds in one of my most favorite ranges. The Partner Traverse was very exciting and I highly recommend it for the experienced scrambler. It was great to get to the tops of the Partner Peaks and really see how to link up Ripsaw Ridge to the north and then to Peaks W, etc and over to the Grand Traverse to the south. We always love getting into the Gores where you will likley see very few people and have the peaks all to yourselves. I hope this report is useful to some who would like to try this traverse. Thanks for reading Brandon Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Partner Traverse

In trying to take advantage of the wonderful Gore Range in our backyard and link up a few more of these little-known traverses, my buddies J, Steve, Caleb (RoanMtnMan) & I set out for Pitkin Lake friday afternoon with the intentions of climbing East & West Partner Peaks (Peaks "V" & "U") and linking the traverse between the two peaks.

After some rain on the 4.5 mile pack into Pitkin Lake, we dried things out at camp with the help of a campfire. Pitkin Lake & the surrounding basin are gorgeous and while we could have done this trip in a long day, we opted to spend 2 nights in Pitkin basin to enjoy some camping. We began hiking around 6:15am on Saturday up East Partner's standard south ridge (mostly class 3 with maybe a few class 4 moves). The ridge was very fun and we topped out around 7:45am.

East Partner Peak (13,057') from Pitkin Lake

Me on East Partner's south ridge before the class 3 rock begins

J & Steve starting up East Partner's class 3 rock on the south ridge

J getting ready to cross a mini knife-edge on East Partner's south ridge

We then started the traverse over to West Partner Peak. There were many initial towers to climb up and over coming down off East Partner's west ridge which did not exactly make the climbing "fast" by any means. However, the rock is solid, for the most part, and there were some exciting downclimbs with decent exposure. I would say most of the climbing on the 1st half of this traverse from East Partner is class 3 with some class 4 moves. We stayed on the ridge proper for the most part unless a cliff blocked a descent and we had to find a way around.

J downclimbing an exposed section to the next notch while descending East Partner's west ridge

This saddle almost represents the halfway point on the traverse and is about the only "easy" terrain on the entire

Caleb was not feeling well due to a likely stomach bug, so he descended from the saddle between East & West Partner Peaks back to our camp at Pitkin Lake to rest. The real difficulties occured after the saddle and the 2nd half of the traverse on the ascent up to West Partner Peak. The climbing involved many exposed initial downclimbs and then some tricky traverses/upclimbs around and up several towers. I would say most of the climbing is class 3/4 with some potential low 5th class moves and all pretty exposed.

J climbing with Caleb on top of the last tower right before he descended back to camp

J & Steve downclimbing into a notch on some low 5th class rock

Me climbing another tower out of the notch

Steve on an exposed traverse on the ridge proper to the top of another tower

Me slipping thru a crack we used to traverse to the next tower

Finally, we get on easier terrain on West Partner's southeast slopes (East Partner & the traverse in the background)

After the majority of the traverse and the real difficulties behind us, we hopped on West Partner's standard south ridge route and followed the fun class 3/4 ridge to the summit. I think we topped out around 10:45am yielding a traverse time of about 2 3/4 hours.

J & Steve climbing down into a notch on West Partner's south ridge

J & Steve climbing up and out of the notch on the south ridge

The remaining portion of West Partner's south ridge to the summit

We then retraced our steps back down West Partner's south ridge for some distance past where we hopped on the south ridge from the traverse. After some fun "easy" scrambling down lower on West Partner's long south ridge, we exited left (east) and made our way back down to our camp at Pitkin Lake. We found Caleb feeling better after he took a nap and we had a great afternoon and evening of swimming and fishing as well as a raging campfire that evening. The rain held off the entire day and night.

Heading back down the lower part of West Partner's south ridge (Pitkin Lake below)

The Partner Traverse on the descent of West Partner's south ridge. The most difficult sections are in the center (East P

Close-up of the most difficult sections of the traverse on the West Partner half of the traverse

Nothing like a refreshing dunk into an alpine lake

A great weekend with my buds in one of my most favorite ranges. The Partner Traverse was very exciting and I highly recommend it for the experienced scrambler. It was great to get to the tops of the Partner Peaks and really see how to link up Ripsaw Ridge to the north and then to Peaks W, etc and over to the Grand Traverse to the south. We always love getting into the Gores where you will likley see very few people and have the peaks all to yourselves. I hope this report is useful to some who would like to try this traverse.

Thanks for reading

Brandon

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

dubsho3000	cool report 8/3/2010 9:41pm I'm looking to learn more about the Gores and this might just come in handy. thanks for sharing.
lordhelmut	Cliff jumping shots 8/3/2010 10:41pm always looks like you are going to crash into the rocks. I gave my mom a near heart attack when I showed her one of me in Evolution Basin/Lake in the Sierras. Nice work Brandon, glad you guys had a solid outing and enjoyed the great outdoors in addition to climbing.
jbchalk	Thanks fellas 8/4/2010 12:05am Brian: Yeah, that cliff jumpin shot looks worse than it really is. That was only a 5 ft rock but looks like we are diving way too shallow Nice work to you too man on your IPW ventures.
Steve Knapp	Nice traverse! 8/4/2010 2:52am I might have to do this someday as I still need both peaks. Looks like a fun couple of days up there. Catch anything in the lake? A nice grilled trout would have hit the spot.
tain21	Love your Gore Stories! 9/8/2017 1:00pm Gonna give East and West Partners a try! Thanks for sharing-
jbchalk	Get it! 9/8/2017 9:18pm Tain21, have fun! Glad you enjoy the Gore stories!

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