Forum Index > Trip Reports > Olympics: Lena, Stone & Angels 19-21 July 2022
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RAW-dad
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RAW-dad
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PostSat Jul 23, 2022 11:39 am 
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
1_Lower Lena Highway
2_first views
2_first views
3_Devil's Club
3_Devil's Club
4_root ladder
4_root ladder
5_Mount Bretherton and Upper Lena
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
6_Upper Lena Lake morning
7_UL Lake sunrise
7_UL Lake sunrise
8_Hamma - Duckabush divide
8_Hamma - Duckabush divide
9_Anderson and Elk Lick
9_Anderson and Elk Lick
10_First views of Mt Stone
10_First views of Mt Stone
11_Upper Stone Pond
11_Upper Stone Pond
11a_Tip of Rainier and Hood Canal
11a_Tip of Rainier and Hood Canal
12_The way ahead(SPG)
12_The way ahead(SPG)
13_The Mountain
13_The Mountain
14_Below Mt Stone (east side)
14_Below Mt Stone (east side)
15_approaching Saint Peter's Gate
15_approaching Saint Peter's Gate
16_Scout Lake and Constance
16_Scout Lake and Constance
17_Phlox at SP's Gate
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. eek.gif 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)
18_The way ahead (LotA)
18a_Mt Pershing (maybe)
18a_Mt Pershing (maybe)
19_Giant rocks on south side of Stone
19_Giant rocks on south side of Stone
20_Lake of the Angels
20_Lake of the Angels
21_Shooting Stars & Marsh Marigolds
21_Shooting Stars & Marsh Marigolds
22_LotA camp
22_LotA camp
23_Nice bedding
23_Nice bedding
24_LotA basin
24_LotA basin
25_Upper slopes of LotA basin
25_Upper slopes of LotA basin
26_Putvin trail meadows
26_Putvin trail meadows
27_Tiger Lilies
27_Tiger Lilies

RodF, Slim, NWtrax, ChrisSJI, RichP, Route Loser, IanB, jaysway, jstern, silence, reststep, Bramble_Scramble, zimmertr  meck, rubywrangler
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reststep
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reststep
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PostSat Jul 23, 2022 6:40 pm 
Great report and photos. Makes me want to go back.

"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir

RAW-dad
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meck
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PostSun Jul 24, 2022 8:21 am 
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
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vibramhead
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PostMon Jul 25, 2022 8:31 am 
Excellent TR. Is there still a rope on that near-vertical section of the Putvin Trail?

RAW-dad
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dicey
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dicey
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PostMon Jul 25, 2022 9:39 am 
No. Rope is gone

I'm not always sure I like being older but being less stupid has advantages. http://www.flickr.com/photos/32121172@N00/sets/
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RAW-dad
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PostMon Jul 25, 2022 5:56 pm 
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
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