Thank you to Mr. Gnome's 3/14/08 entry about Lena Lake! Trail mostly clear of snow until about .5 miles before first lookout of Lower Lena Lake where there still about 3' of packed snow (not at the lookout though, clear and perfect for lunch/tea). There is some blowdown and water over trail to negotiate. My StabilIcers (cleats) made the walk out faster over snow, but the trail is manageable in boots. Went down to the campsites (saw 4 tents) - the edges of the lake are just beginning to thaw and you can see cracks in the snow on ice on the lake. Beautiful!
Travel Note for Seattleites: left Seattle at 6:10am, took the I-5S to 16E to 106W to 101N to Hamma Hamma Recreational Area, and arrived at the trailhead just before 9am (stopped for a few sunrise pics, but 106 is slow going). I was the first on the sign in sheet, reached the Lower Lena Lookout by 10:15am, started heading down around 11:30 and passed THIRTY TWO people just in the hour it took me to walk out. Took 101N to 104 E (one hour fifteen minutes) and just missed the Edmonds-Kingston ferry, so an hour wait.
Lower Lena Campsite note and an appeal: The first campsite at Lower Lena was covered in trash (it looked like someone had been blowing up small kerosene lanterns and tin cans with butane). I forgot to pack a garbage bag, so I turned my daypack cover into a makeshift bag cinched with climbing rope to carry out as much trash as I could, but I couldn't get it all. The first four hikers I passed I asked if they would consider picking up an item and packing it out and they said they would try. (if all 32 people I passed packed out 1 item, how pristine Lower Lena would be!). We are all stewards - I will remember to pack a garbage bag and string next hike I take.
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