Rudolph Rim loop (includes Rudolph Spur)
Posted: November 22nd, 2020, 12:18 am
A mile southeast of Bridge of the Gods, Rudolph Creek spills from the breach of an irregular bowl. My plan was to depart PCT, hike XC to the breach, look for access to the right/west ridgecrest, follow it up and east, almost to Benson Plateau, and then descend the east ridge (known as Rudolph Spur) back down to Rudolph Creek.
The ascent ridge was steep and jumbled, and I had almost no visibility due to a blanket of low clouds. I rose above the clouds, but the ridgecrest continued to be jumbled. There were no major difficulties, except a short section that was essentially level, but extremely narrow, and with crazy exposure (vertical to west, uncomfortably steep to east). Even if the rocks weren't frosty, I would have balked. I backtracked a bit, dropped considerably off crest to left/east, and bypassed the crux.
At 3200' the route changes abruptly as the ridge flattens and turns east, joining Benson Bluffs. The sunny south exposure was welcome after hours of cool, shady, sometimes-cloudy climbing. I continued east to a flat high point that juts out northwest from Benson Plateau.
Descending Rudolph Spur made me uneasy. I've ascended the route once, but this time I was going down, on ridgecrest (ignoring the standard route, except where it is on ridgecrest), and there's been a fire since I was there last (Eagle Creek fire). I took the plunge, and found the ridge delightful. I don't understand the need for that Mazama trail that takes the standard RS route so far off ridgecrest. There was one step that's essentially unclimbable, but it's easy to bypass on the east (maybe west too; I didn't investigate).
Where the standard route drops off ridgecrest to the east, I continued down the ridge until it was too steep to continue, then dropped west (into the bowl) and traversed over to ridgecrest again. But eventually it was hopeless; Rudolph Spur ends with a sheer drop off all sides. Fortunately, from here I could see that Rudolph Creek could be followed out of the bowl (it doesn't get pinched into a steep canyon). So I backtracked up/south to a spot where it was safe to drop to the creek.
Out of the bowl, I was greatly relieved. For the first time since I left my high point near Benson Plateau, I knew I had no challenges between me and PCT, except the awful brush.
Incidentally, Rudolph Creek never made it more than a quarter mile past the breach before seeping into the ground.
Overall impressions: Although I'm pleased to have accomplished this loop, I can't say it was fun. The west (ascent) ridge was a scratch-and-claw affair, leaving me muddy and blackened with soot from burned trees. The ridgecrest was often too brushy to provide good views. Rudolph Spur was fun in spots, but often, especially below 2700', it was just drudgery. I'm surprised it didn't look more familiar. Funny, I think I accidentally missed the stretch I was most worried about. I wish I had remembered to look for the bottom of the Mazama section, as I'm curious what state it's in.
"Rudolph Rim" was my idea. Like it? Have you ever seen a name for my western ascent ridge? Has anybody posted a TR on it?
The ascent ridge was steep and jumbled, and I had almost no visibility due to a blanket of low clouds. I rose above the clouds, but the ridgecrest continued to be jumbled. There were no major difficulties, except a short section that was essentially level, but extremely narrow, and with crazy exposure (vertical to west, uncomfortably steep to east). Even if the rocks weren't frosty, I would have balked. I backtracked a bit, dropped considerably off crest to left/east, and bypassed the crux.
At 3200' the route changes abruptly as the ridge flattens and turns east, joining Benson Bluffs. The sunny south exposure was welcome after hours of cool, shady, sometimes-cloudy climbing. I continued east to a flat high point that juts out northwest from Benson Plateau.
Descending Rudolph Spur made me uneasy. I've ascended the route once, but this time I was going down, on ridgecrest (ignoring the standard route, except where it is on ridgecrest), and there's been a fire since I was there last (Eagle Creek fire). I took the plunge, and found the ridge delightful. I don't understand the need for that Mazama trail that takes the standard RS route so far off ridgecrest. There was one step that's essentially unclimbable, but it's easy to bypass on the east (maybe west too; I didn't investigate).
Where the standard route drops off ridgecrest to the east, I continued down the ridge until it was too steep to continue, then dropped west (into the bowl) and traversed over to ridgecrest again. But eventually it was hopeless; Rudolph Spur ends with a sheer drop off all sides. Fortunately, from here I could see that Rudolph Creek could be followed out of the bowl (it doesn't get pinched into a steep canyon). So I backtracked up/south to a spot where it was safe to drop to the creek.
Out of the bowl, I was greatly relieved. For the first time since I left my high point near Benson Plateau, I knew I had no challenges between me and PCT, except the awful brush.
Incidentally, Rudolph Creek never made it more than a quarter mile past the breach before seeping into the ground.
Overall impressions: Although I'm pleased to have accomplished this loop, I can't say it was fun. The west (ascent) ridge was a scratch-and-claw affair, leaving me muddy and blackened with soot from burned trees. The ridgecrest was often too brushy to provide good views. Rudolph Spur was fun in spots, but often, especially below 2700', it was just drudgery. I'm surprised it didn't look more familiar. Funny, I think I accidentally missed the stretch I was most worried about. I wish I had remembered to look for the bottom of the Mazama section, as I'm curious what state it's in.
"Rudolph Rim" was my idea. Like it? Have you ever seen a name for my western ascent ridge? Has anybody posted a TR on it?