There is no trail, and route finding experience is an imperative skill to have.
All of the routes have exposure, the south face, right side, being perhaps the "least" but it is still there. Rock is rated at Cl3 with a few Cl4 moves up the south face.
Russell is not a walk-up peak. Perhaps that's why it was one of the last 14ers climbed in CA, and one of Norman Clyde's favorites.
