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RAW-dad Member
Joined: 07 Jul 2017 Posts: 119 | TRs | Pics Location: Oregon |
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RAW-dad
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Sat Jul 23, 2022 11:39 am
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Did a short but spectacular loop hike in the Hamma Hamma drainage. Stashed my bike at the Putvin TH and drove back to the Lena Lakes TH where I started up the well-graded path (aka highway) to Lower Lena Lake. As noted by many, the trail to Upper LL got much steeper but was still pleasant. Soon found myself at Upper Lena Lake where there were a few day hikers and overnighters. Took the farthest site on the SW corner. Bugs were not bad until the dinner bell sounded, after which they were pretty ferocious. Views of Mt Lena and a piece of Mt Bretherton were well worth the struggle. Sleep came early.
1_Lower Lena Highway 2_first views 3_Devil's Club 4_root ladder 5_Mount Bretherton and Upper Lena
Next morning enjoyed some bug-free lounging and a pretty sunrise. Packed up and headed SW following the Scout Lake and Stone Pond way trails. Snow coverage was just about perfect - enough for scenery, but not too much to make route finding difficult. Excellent views of the west side of Bretherton, down into the Duckabush, Elk Lick and Anderson, as well as many lakelets and tarns. Soon found myself in the Stone Ponds area looking up at Mt Stone and St Peter's Gate. It was hot and bright on the snow but progress was steady (sorta).
6_Upper Lena Lake morning 7_UL Lake sunrise 8_Hamma - Duckabush divide 9_Anderson and Elk Lick 10_First views of Mt Stone 11_Upper Stone Pond 11a_Tip of Rainier and Hood Canal 12_The way ahead(SPG) 13_The Mountain 14_Below Mt Stone (east side) 15_approaching Saint Peter's Gate 16_Scout Lake and Constance 17_Phlox at SP's Gate
Rockfall was definitely a hazard on the approach to SPG and sure enough while I was at the gate, I heard a sharp, almost rifle like report, but could not see where the rocks went. I guess that's the hazard... After a brief snack, I headed down into the Lake of the Angels basin. Rather than follow the route down into the Pond of the False Prophet (gotta love these names!), I angled to the left past some huge boulders and approached LotA from the NE. After seeing no one since ULL, I was a bit sad to find multiple parties at the lake but it turned out that all were day hikers, so I soon had the place to myself. Swimming was had, blood was donated to the locals, and views were enjoyed. Looking back at SPG it seemed as ropes would be needed to get down from it...
Next morning, I did a short hike up toward Mt Skokomish and then started down the notorious Putvin Trail. It lived up to it's billing with several almost vertical sections and a relentless down. Knees were not happy! All in all this was a great route but it should not be taken lightly! Hope you all enjoy the photos.
18_The way ahead (LotA) 18a_Mt Pershing (maybe) 19_Giant rocks on south side of Stone 20_Lake of the Angels 21_Shooting Stars & Marsh Marigolds 22_LotA camp 23_Nice bedding 24_LotA basin 25_Upper slopes of LotA basin 26_Putvin trail meadows 27_Tiger Lilies
RodF, Slim, NWtrax, ChrisSJI, RichP, Route Loser, IanB, jaysway, jstern, silence, reststep, Bramble_Scramble, zimmertr meck, rubywrangler
RodF, Slim, NWtrax, ChrisSJI, RichP, Route Loser, IanB, jaysway, jstern, silence, reststep, Bramble_Scramble, zimmertr meck, rubywrangler
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reststep Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 4757 | TRs | Pics
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reststep
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Sat Jul 23, 2022 6:40 pm
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Great report and photos. Makes me want to go back.
"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
RAW-dad
"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
RAW-dad
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meck Member
Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Posts: 920 | TRs | Pics
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meck
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Sun Jul 24, 2022 8:21 am
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Really enjoyed those photos. That's a fun loop... though SPG looks a bit daunting with that much snow. Did you use crampons or microspikes?
*Just say NO to Rent-Seeking, don't give up the concept of "ownership"*
RAW-dad
*Just say NO to Rent-Seeking, don't give up the concept of "ownership"*
RAW-dad
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vibramhead Member
Joined: 16 Mar 2010 Posts: 175 | TRs | Pics Location: Olympic Peninsula |
Excellent TR. Is there still a rope on that near-vertical section of the Putvin Trail?
RAW-dad
RAW-dad
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dicey custom title
Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2870 | TRs | Pics Location: giving cornices a wider berth |
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dicey
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Mon Jul 25, 2022 9:39 am
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RAW-dad Member
Joined: 07 Jul 2017 Posts: 119 | TRs | Pics Location: Oregon |
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RAW-dad
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Mon Jul 25, 2022 5:56 pm
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Meck - I had microspikes but the snow conditions were perfect , so never took them out of my pack.
Vibramhead - as mentioned, no rope on the Putvin. Also, I had seen a rope at the Lena Creek ford in WTA report from early July but that was gone too.
meck
meck
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