City Creek North Ridge to Rudy's Flat

I seriously hesitate to share this run because I want it all to myself. I have never come across another runner in the upper sections, and that's fine by me. This area is beautiful in the wee hours of the morning or as the sun goes down. I'll often run the whole way back in the dark with a head-lamp.Note that while Mueller Park Trail is a longer run to Rudy's Flat, this run to the flat is, in my opinion, much harder due to its rugged terrain.I like to break this run down into 5 major cruxes. The first comes shortly after leaving the gas pipeline. If you have to walk the steeper sections of this part, don't let it discourage you from running the rest of the trail. After running through beautiful clearings, you finally link up with an old jeep road. Don't worry--it's off limits to motorized traffic. At this junction, you could turn right and make a loop of your run, or, as marked on the given line, head left to the second crux, a steep hill marked by a very large cairn. Now if you've still got energy to burn, continue up to the third crux--a monster hill that takes you to what is probably the highest elevation along the North Ridge of City Creek Canyon before reaching Rudy's Flat. Bask in the glory of conquring the 3rd crux!But don't bask too long! Lose precious altitude on your way to the 4th crux--a trail emerging from the canopy onto a steep trail that follows the edge of green foliage where it meats the brown brush. I've tried running off-trail here by making my own switch backs to deal with the steep grade. It doesn't work! It actually burns more energy than just sticking straight to the trail and jog straight up the fall-line.Conquering that, you lose some more hard-earned altitude on your way to the base of the 5th crux. Unlike all cruxes that came before, the difficulty of this crux is due to there being almost no trail, and whatever trail there is, one of terrible quality. Whereas the previous cruxes taxed you on a steep, sustained grade, this one taxes you on an awkward, rocky traverse. I think it's the hardest of all 5 cruxes. However! Once you've finished traversing around the final ridge peak, the trail picks up definition nicely, and it's smooth sailing from here! There's just one little up-hill section and then it's an easy-breezy jog all the way to the Flat! Note that mid-way through the awkward traverse, you have to jog straight up the fall-line (on zero trail!) for a bit to find one of at least 2 trails that finish the traverse. They both converge on one another, and then turn the corner to reach the saddle.