Hiked to lower Lena Lake. Getting to the trailhead is half the fun. Highway 101 is closed north of Lilliwaup. Coming from the south, you can get there by turning west at Hoodsport on Hwy. 119, then north on Forest Service Roads 24 and 2480. I encountered patches of snow beginning at 1 mile. There's 3 to 5 feet of snow at lower Lena Lake. Some were using snowshoes and crampons. I made it easily with just boots, sticking to the trail and going up mid-afternoon. There are a few logs across the trail but they are easy to negotiate. Trilliums and Red-Flowering Currant are in bloom right now. Last year about this time I saw some Fawn Lily down near the trailhead. I didn't look carefully, but I didn't see any this trip. I hope they haven't been picked!

I took a trip after work to check the condition of the roads leading to the trailheads on the eastern side of the olympics. Lower Lena lake is now accesable from the trailhead. Reports at the trail register say there is 4 to 6 feet of snow at the lake still. There is no snow on the trail for the first 14 switchbacks, after that the trail is covered with snow. See ya on the trail.

Can't speak for the trail, but the road to the trailhead was snow covered beginning a mile below. 4WD might make it up, but ordinary vehicles were parking there and trudging through the snow. Odd, since Duckabush is clear. Forest Rangers were patroling the road in and giving tickets to people who find the paved apporach road too tempting for fast travel.

t. Anderson Gavin and I left Lower Lena about 10 AM in heavy fog on 7/31. The trail to Upper Lena is generally rough and suffers from a severe lack of maintenance over the years. While rough, it is generally passable. However, the trail is quite overgrown and we got very wet from constant contact with brush once we we made the first stream crossing. Lena Creek (the second major stream) is gushing and the rocks at the base of the waterfall are very slippery. We recommend crossing at the footlog about 100 feet downstream. From Lena Creek to Upper Lena the trail is covered with blowdowns from last winter. Getting by some of them is a bit tricky. Unfortunately, going around and under them, hikers have done considerable damage to the trail. The lake itself was absolutely spectacular. There are still patches of snow at the west end. Mount Bretherton and the ridges to the South and west have traces of snow as well. We side-hiked to Scout Lake Divide. The Glacier Lillies, Lupine, Indian Paintbrush, Heather, Daisies, and other flowers were in full bloom. The Lupine was especially fragrant. Unfortunately, the views were obscured by heavy clouds, but all the more reason for a return trip. It's a shame that trail is in such poor shape. While never a smooth track and always a challenge, at one time it was rather passable, and reasonably safe. Erosion and neglect have taken their toll to the point where the water soaked exposed bedrock makes the trail hazardous for backpackers. The lack of maintenance the past two years in particular makes me wonder what the hefty USNPS backcountry user fees are going for. The Park Service certainly hasn't committed any of the revenue to repairing damage on this trail. (However, they have managed to put in a new post to hold the registration and fee collection board at the Park boundary.) Unfortunately, due to the heavy damage, repairing the dangerous spots will now cost a tremendous amount of time and money. At the very minimum the trees should have been cut out of the trail weeks ago. On our way back to the trailhead, we ran into a Forest Service employee who told us that he heard the Park Service was planning to clear the trees in the coming week. Anyone planning to hike to Upper Lena might want to consider bringing rain pants for hiking through the brush. Be careful of the wet rocks--they're treacherous. However, once you get to the Lake, you will find that your journey has been worth the effort! If you plan to hike to Scout Lake or Stone Ponds, you should use a Custom Correct Map as it is the only one that shows the trail.

The Olympics - Hike into Lena Lake and to Brothers Camp were uneventful but Very Hot, over 90 degrees. Trail through the Valley of Silent Men is in excellent shape. The camp was empty and beautiful. Began the climb at about 7:30 am. The way was easy to follow and only a few times required discussion among us. Some very hard snow, almost hard enough to require crampons, both on the lower snowfield remnants and on the upper slopes. This party of 3 never felt the need to rope up or use more than basic caution and ice axes. Much of the upper route was rock and required a fair amount of climbing, as opposed to scrambling. Possible simpler routes could have been chosen, but we loved it. Summit at noon and a leisurely rest, and mind-blowing view, before we headed down, broke camp, and stumbled out to the truck in the heat. Climbing route is pretty exposed to sun, mostly following the huge south coulouir. Water was available at regular intervals right up to the upper slopes.