Trip Date: September 8, 2012
Mt. Lena Day Climb
Lena Lake
Upper Lena Lake
Mount Lena (5995′)
Trip Report Summary
Region: Olympic Mountains (Washington)
Sub-Region: Skokomish – Duckabush Group
Area: Olympic National Park
Starting & Ending Point: Lena Lake Trailhead on Hamma Hamma River Road (Elev. 700 feet)
Way Points: Lena Creek & Lena Lake & West Fork Lena Creek & Upper Lena Lake (trail hike)
Summit: Mt. Lena (off-trail hike & dirt scramble via Southeast Slope)
Approximate Stats: 14 miles traveled; 5700 feet gained & lost; 4.8 hours up; 4.0 hours down.
Full Trip Report
Mt. Lena offers an easy ascent and a good viewpoint in the Skokomish-Duckabush Group of the Olympic Mountains. Starting at the Lena Lake Trailhead beside the Hamma Hamma River Road, I hiked up to Lena Lake on a nicely graded trail, then took a left turn and continued up to Upper Lena Lake on a steeper and rougher trail. It was a hot day, so I made a long pit stop at the lake to cool off. Just across the lake, Mt. Bretherton presented itself as a nice objective for a future trip.
From the lake shore, I went cross-country up the southeastern slope of Mt. Lena, first traveling through light forest, then light brush. Before long, I left the brush behind and found myself on a long, steep slope of hard dirt. Creating even tiny steps in the hard dirt with my soft trail boots required multiple swift kicks, and I was seriously wishing that I’d brought mountain boots and crampons!
It was a relief to finally get off the steep dirt slope and gain the flattish summit (4.8 hours + 5700 feet from TH). I hung out on the summit for quite a while, mostly to enjoy the summit views but also because I was dreading the descent.
To descend, I basically retraced my up-route down to Upper Lena Lake—somehow surviving the steep dirt—then I hoofed it back down the trail to the trailhead (4.0 hours from summit). My conclusion: Anyone looking for a good, strenuous, non-technical summit ascent would likely find Mt. Lena quite satisfying—if prepared for the terrain.
…
Route Map & Profile
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge…
