Trip Report
Alpine Scramble - Mount Ruth (Mount Rainier)
Fickle weather added a layer of interest to this spring snow scramble of Mount Ruth.
Ron Jones
June 01, 2025
- Sat, May 31, 2025
- Alpine Scramble - Mount Ruth (Mount Rainier)
- Mount Ruth (Mount Rainier)
- Scrambling
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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The White River campground road is open but the campsites are still closed. The pit toilet in loop B is open, but the main restrooms at the parking lot are closed.
The glacier basin trail is snow-free for about 1 to 1.5 miles when snow patches begin and quickly turn to all snow. Snow was soft but did not require snowshoes. Snow bridges to cross the White River were found. We saw some evidence of wet slides on various slopes.
A group of 8 scramblers set off at 7:45AM. The forecast had us a little worried given the prediction of possible rain/snow and high winds after 11AM. We were prepared to
Saturday
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west northwest 18 to 28 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph.
The glacier basin trail rises about 1,000' in a little over 3 miles where the offtrail scramble begins.
Hello Snow!!
Getting a view of our objective - roughly center left high point. We stashed our snowshoes in trees from where this photo was taken. Then we set off to find our way across the White River and begin ascending.
Snow bridges helped us cross the river.
We were following to groups of two that started 30-45 minutes ahead of us. Thankful for their steps. We put on crampons and helmets and pulled out ice axes as we started gaining steeper slopes.
Meandering our way up...
In full sun on the ascent made for hot climbing.
About 1600' below the summit we took a roughly 15 minute break.
As we ended our break, the clouds rolled in fully and views were obliterated, and it cooled some.
5.25 hours to reach the summit. 4,500' gain.
As we ate lunch and chatted, the visibility got worse and the winds began blowing strong, and even a few snow flakes. We were about to start descending the way be came up but the wind pushed the clouds around and we got a great view of the interglacier bowl (commonly used to gain Steamboat Prow), which appeared a much more inviting route down. A short conversation and check-in and we decided to drop into the saddle and descend the basin. The wind was really howling now, probably in the 30 plus range for gusts.
A little rock scrambling to the saddle
Looking over toward Steamboat Prow and our path down.
We alternated glissade and traversing and some plunge steps.
Back on the upper portion of the trail with a light rain.
Back on dirt was a pleasant change. We gathered our snowshoes and headed for the cars.
Looking back to Mt Ruth from the trail. The skies mostly cleared, and we could see that a small D1 wet slide had occured at some point - crossing the track that we and others had taken up. One couple were descending this route on our way up.
All in all, a great day out with fickle weather. 9-½ hours car to car on this 10 mile 4,500' day.
