16 miles of hiking • 6500' elevation gain •
Wake up: 3:30am
Leave Portland: 4am+
On Lena Lake trail: 7:45am
Burned up past Lena Lake into Valley of the Silent Men, very pretty - moss and water and very Gorge like. Hit climbers camp, briefly lost use trail, regained trail, lost it again in avi debris and downed trees. Finally got into the ascent couloir - snow is melting and seems unsafe, so we scrambled along the rock on the right side. Time lost trying to avoid a party of goats in the middle of the couloir. Fun, loose rock scrambling upward, more goats.
Summit: ~1pm
Goats circle the summit, a little closer than we want them. Amazing view of the Olympic Range, and Cascades from Helens/Adams north through Rainier, Glacier, and Baker. Another group who summitted earlier said that before it got hazy, you could see Hood and Jefferson. Much discussion of future climbing on Ellinor, Washington, and Constance.
Descent: ~2pm? (who knows)
Scree surfing and downclimbing. A too-curious goat down on the snow in the couloir. We find the use path through the avi debris that we missed on the way up. Celebration beer at climbers camp after chilling it in the creek. Burn down the trail past Lena Lake back to the trailhead.
Return to car: 8pm
Dinner stop in Olympia at Quality Burrito. Recommended - quirky local place, plays crazy rap music. Open late.
Back in Portland: 12:30am
Monday: back to work....
Comments
Father Guido Sarducci
July 18, 2013
One of my favorite climbs also. Never did it in one day like that though....outstanding!
B-Dog
July 16, 2013
Nice... One of my favorite climbs in the Oly's. The valley of the Silent Men is one the best parts on that climb. Looks like some young blood up there regarding the goats. Hopefully they don't get out of control like the ones on Ellinor.