I parked at Cash Prairie Trailhead and hit the three peaks on the way in so I could grind out the main trail on the way out. Three "meh" peaks doesn't add up to one very good peak, but now I have seen this section of the William O Douglas Wilderness and don't need to ever return.
It was dry, dusty, and most of trail is poorly maintained. Cash Prairie to Burnt Mountain is actually a nice section that had a few parties on the trail. After Burnt Mountain, it was pure solitude for 11+ miles, which is the silver lining if you want a hike that is actually away from people.
There is a sign for Shellrock Peak, so you can't miss the cut off. However, the trail immediately disappears in the trees, but it's less than a 1/4 mile of wayfinding before hitting the inevitable massing of shale-like rock that is the entire summit. There is roughly a path to follow up Shellrock Peak. The slip, trip and fall hazard is real on this ascent as it's a solid 1/2 mile each direction on a garbage pile of weathered, shattered and flakey granite. There is one rocky (but flat) campsite at the summit that is walled off from the wind where a skinny tent could fit.
Then onto Ironstone Mt. There is no marked cut off and I never found a trail, so look to other users or sources for help on this one. Even descending from the summit there are bits and pieces of boot paths that pick up for 200 feet then disappear or end in thick underbrush. It's hard to miss the eventual trail or the summit, and wayfinding off trail here is less than a mile total.
Ironstone Mt has an amazing view of Rainer, but was also mobbed with flies, bees, and/or flies that look like bees. Over a 30m lunch I was never bit or stung, but it wasn't comfortable listening to the swarm and hoping to be left alone.
On the way out, looking south, there was never a view of Rimrock Lake as Russel Ridge is perpetually in the way. Looking north, Rattlesnake Peak blocks any view of Mt Aix but Nelson Ridge is an okay substitute view. I didn't expect there to be any water, and there was zero, but sheesh! 8 liters was not really enough. Over all, a real stinker of peaks. 4/10. 2 stars. Triple Meh.
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