After exploring the USFS 45-77 Rd, I drove Hwy 12 thru the Rimrock Retreat Burn – it was very sad to see an area I love so much still smoking after the devastating fire. However, not all is burned over in the Tieton Valley, and the massive oak tree I like to visit is likely intact, altho I could not see it from the hiway. The trails are closed, the fire not fully extinguished yet, and electrical crews were busy all up and down the valley restoring power. After getting an eyeful of that, I drove up the Bethel Ridge road (USFS 1500) to Cash Prairie on USFS 1500-199.
I set up camp under a couple of trees on the prairie and enjoyed a starry, if chilly night. In the morning, I drove another mile up to the trail head and hiked out to Burnt Mountain to take pics. I didn’t have much time, as I needed to be back in Olympia in time to pick up soil from the landscape supply.
What a gorgeous country!
Images taken August 26, 2024 along the Ironstone Mountain Trail, MBSNF.
4.79 miles hiked w/ 1,208′ elev. gain.
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