Here We Go Round Two - You'll Want to Read This

We all think it is fun to be spontaneous right?

The news reports are everywhere. It has been a very unusual year in terms of the overwhelming accumulation of snow in our mountains this past winter and spring. Even as we enter mid July we are running a race against the snowmelt. Is it going to happen fast enough? Our planned Glacier Peak hike up to Glacier Peak Meadows has us crossing Red Pass at 6,800 ft. Red Pass is roughly the same elevation as Paradise up at Mt. Rainier which is almost 300% above its normal snowpack in July. No kidding. There is a lot of snow still up in the mountains. At Lyman Lakes in the Glacier Peak Wilderness there is about 50 inches of snow still on the ground.

With that said, we are changing the location of our backpack. I was looking forward to hiking in the Glacier Peak Wilderness because it is an area of Washington I have yet to visit. But we are just not prepared to be crossing snowfields and camping on snow. We need a lower elevation hike instead. But, don't despair, we are in for a real treat because this year we are able to now step back and take a look at hikes that we may never have thought of before. Therefore, it is with great joy that I tell you I have made reservations for a three night backpack in Olympic National Park at Upper Lena Lake. Cheers (I can hear you all cheering)!

If not, here are the details about the hike:

Hike: Upper Lena Lake
Setting: Beautiful Subalpine Mountain Lake (as seen in picture above)
When: August 2nd - 5th (3 nights)
Elevation: 1,300 to 4,600 ft
Elevation Gain: 3,900 ft
Mileage: 14.6 miles roundtrip
Trailhead: Enter near Hoodsport (Hood Canal) near the Hamma Hamma River
Fun Fact: This hike was one of Ira and Harvey Manning's (famous Pacific NW hiking book authors) hikes. They went there on their honeymoon and on anniverseries. It was also Harvey's summer country during his Boy Scout years in the 1930s!
Second Fun Fact: Lena Lake meets five of the six criteria for a classic Washington hike defined by Ira and Harvey Manning - views, lakes, flowers, heather covered alpine meadows, and, if lucky, herds of elk.
Ambitious Explortations (aka Day Hikes): Mount Lena (5,995 ft), ridge trail to Scout Lake, Lake of the Angels, or stay at camp and relax by the lake!

We have a group site reserved for seven people. They are (drum roll please)... Matthew! Erica! Ben! Cousin Kris! Uncle Michael! Cousin Juli! and best family friend ever, Brad! Yeah, yeah, yeah! Let's get this backpacking adventure party started.

Keep up your exercise, break in your boots, start conditioning because we have three weeks before we hit the trail. If you have questions about the snow pack, follow it here:

Olympic National Park Trail Conditions
(Upper Lena Lake report is listed in the Staircase section)

Washington Trails Association
(go to where it says "Recent Trip Reports")

Keep checking in with the blog for more updates and information!

Happy Trails,
Erica