We decided to go to Lena Lake for this trip because of the low elevation of the trail head. Thinking I would not need 4 wheel drive to get there. Luckily I went up on the 1st for a day hike and found out you do need four wheel drive to get there. The trail is snow covered from the getgo. You do not need snow shoes though. You will just mess up the crampons if you wear them. This was before the snow storm we just had on the 6th so you may want to pack them just incase. We stayed one night. It was chilly. There is aprox. 12-15 inches of snow at the lake. Before the latest storm. Did not see one person the whole time we were there. Very unusual for this trail, even this time of year. The trail is in good shape. By the end of this week the snow should be off the road. May go back up this week end. See Ya.

After years of viewing from my deck the sentinel of the eastern Olympics, The Brothers, I finally arranged an attempted climb of it. My hiking partner, Woody, and I reached the Lena Lakes trailhead a little after noon on a Wednesday. We were surprised to see many cars and people at the trailhead. Turns out a large church youth group was arranging their departure to camp at Lower Lena Lake. We would pass and be passed by members of this group up the trail. The trail to Lower Lena Lake is in good condition. No obstructions or bugs encountered. We reached the lake within about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. We continued past the pleasant odors of campfires and food to the northern side of the lake where we took a break. We found a crude wooden raft fashioned out of logs, fishing line, and twine (somebody had some time on their hands!) We rested on it but decided against testing the seaworthiness of this sailing vessel, and continued on the trail. We encountered the only two other people attempting the Brothers climb near the junction with the Brothers trail. We spoke briefly and let them pass. The trail to the Brothers goes through The Valley of the Silent Men which is a heavily forested valley. The trail contains quite a few blow downs but is otherwise fairly easy to follow. We encountered a pheasant that followed us for a while and a large frog (or toad?). We reached the Brothers campsites a little after 5 PM. It is easy to miss the left turn that leads across a dry creek bed to the campsites. There is a flag on the trail with an L on it which we noted and went left. We actually backtracked a bit (100 feet?) to a campsite by the creek. The creek is quite clear and beautiful in this area and provided a nice water source. Bugs more plentiful at the campsite. The next morning we departed at about 6:45 AM. We took the Brothers climbing path through the forest. We came onto a tent at a campsite at about 4,200 feet that was the two fellows we encountered earlier. They were still in their tent and we spoke briefly. Their intent was to camp on the summit. We left this site and entered a dry gully that climbed northerly. This route was marked with cairns and ribbons on trees where available. Eventually we beared somewhat right and the route opened up. We were still able to follow a faint path and cairns (but watch carefully). There were some nice meadows with many wildflowers in bloom. Somewhere past 5,000 feet a narrow gully called The Hourglass is reached. We climbed up through it and then beared slightly left. This was probably a good choice although a short stretch of the most difficult scrambling was needed to get up through it. When the route eased, we encountered two steep couloirs. We took the one to the right passing around a headwall. There was some snow left in this chute but we could easily get by it. We almost missed a notch to the right which is followed through to the summit. We noted a mountain goat at the top watching us. It was just to the right of the true summit. We climbed by pretty close but it did not bother us (nice photo ops). Reached the summit at about 11 AM. Saw another goat just down below. We enjoyed a cloudy summit so no extensive views but calm and warm. We did not pass the other two climbers on the way down but did hear them at one point. It was a long climb/hike back down to our campsite and car, but we did beat darkness. A worthy endeavor that will test one's moxie and endurance. Helmet recommended higher up. Also leather gloves would have been nice. No ice axe or crampons needed this late in the year.

The trail to the lower lake remains in great condition and the hike was beautiful. No muddy portions yet, and no snow at all on the lower trail. Ranger reported that above the lower lake (trails to the Brothers Wilderness or Upper Lake Lena), the trail was snowed in, and we spotted several hikers with crampons, pick axes, etc., headed beyond Lena Lake. Lots of great recent repairs have been done, particularly to the lower portion of the trail. Round trip time, including lunch at the lake, is a bit over three hours.

Got in a little hike between the rain showers. trail is in great shape, no snow or mudholes. several small groups of people.

Trail work crews are busy cleaning and placing timber posts in key areas. The trail is in excellent condition..