Rimwall Summit - Scramble

Once parked the trail starts directly across the parking area on the east side of the road, and just to the left of the creek. A yellow sign is visible noting the area has seasonal closures. This is the trail.

The first option which I found to be quicker but less enjoyable due to no scrambling initially ... is a few hundred meters into the hike; it looks like there is a very tiny resemblance of a trail that starts to your left. I decided to take this the second time around and it is actually the bottom point of the ridge. It goes immediately uphill and turns into a small cliff band. If you stick to the edge you can stay out of the trees and the bushwhacking is kept to a minimal.

The second option is more common and does offer you the opportunity to get actual scrambling in. Hike nearly all the way to West Wind Pass, just as your approaching it you can see the cliffs of the Rimwall to your left. You can pick your preferred route and start scrambling upwards. If you would still prefer something a bit easier, you can follow the cliff to the left and it eventually meets up with the ground you are standing on. At that point you can simply walk onto the ridge to gain it.

Regardless of the route you took, they both meet up on the backside of the mountain. At this point you have to zig zag through a field of uncomfortably shaped rocks. Not too big and not too small, just the right size to make walking on a chore. There is no visible trail at this point for the majority of this section.

Once you ascend past the larger rocks, you reach the ball bearing scree. At this point there is a visible trail that leads you up to the top of the ridge.

As you reach the top of the ridge, you finally get to see the complete view to the north. The wind greatly picks up at this point as well as it is now freely flowing over the top unobstructed. The trail to the summit is now visible as well. You have the choice of following the trail as it traverse to the left through the rock bands, or to follow the ridge as you scramble the spine to the summit.

Which ever direction you decide to go, the idea is basically the same. Scramble over the numerous rock bands and reach the summit. There are a few spots to get up and over on each band so if conditions are making one particularly hard to ascend or descend, you can always move higher up or lower down and try again.

Once you have taken in the views from the summit it's time to head back down. You can either head back the way you came, or take the quicker way down. This involves heading down the scree slopes to the drainage that funnels below. There are funnel points you notice as you traverse to the summit. One is close to your ascent route, and the other is almost directly under the summit if your look at the Google Earth preview below. The trip through the drainage is also exciting in its own way.

Depending on where you drop in ... there are a few obstacles to overcome. A lot of it is simple friction slab that you have to make your way down. It is very slick as many years of water running over it has smoothed it down to a shine. There are a few drops that you encounter that used to be old waterfalls, one of which is of substantial size, when you approach these you can by pass on the left usually through the trees. Avoid going to the edge as there is only friction holding you. If you slip, the ground beneath you is so smooth there is nothing to catch you before you take a fall of your own. Depending on how much water is still lingering throughout, that can also create some trouble. While it shouldn't do more then just slow you down, the deep holes, some a couple feet deep, did make me pull some interesting stretches to get over as the trees around the drainage are too thick to bother going through at times.