Upper-Lower Lena Lake Trail

An easy hiking trail, free of snow most of the year,this trail goes through splendid forest to the beautiful Lower Lena Lake. The lake should have been part of the Brothers Wilderness area, but was left out because of a proposed hydroelectric project. The project would have been so damaging to the area, environmentalist and hikers protested and the U.S. Forest service has deemed it recreational area.Continuing up the trail into the Olympic National Park is Upper Lena Lake, a pristene sub-alpine lake at 4,600 feet of elevation.We have been talking about doing the hike to Upper Lena Lake for years, but it's gonna take Kyle's ambition to get us there.

Map of Forest Lands

The guide-Crocodile Kyle		Dorothy and her sister Chris had done this hike before, and it was highly recommended. So Clarissa, Bejonty, Dorothy, Kyle and I got together in the fall and did the Lower Lena Lake portion. Actually, Bejonty and I set up and maintained the basecamp near the trailhead since I had a bad cold and Bejonty wanted to sit by the fire and talk to me. Kyle brought Baker, so Byron was on his worst behavior! When we first got to the trailhead, Byron and Baker promply took off down the road in the wrong direction and Kyle had to go find them. I think Kyle got in a mile hike before getting on the trail just looking for the dogs!
The trail is wide, with gentle switchbacks through the forest shadows. At 1 1/2 miles it crosses the dry streambed of Lena Creek, which runs underground most of the year. At 3 miles the trail splits, the right fork going on to Upper Lena Lake. The terrain is old-growth forest, covered in Northwest moss and ferns. Dorothy and Clarissa started up the trail while Kyle was looking for the dogs, but Kyle caught up to them quickly. He talked Dorothy into climbing on top of this giant rock, quite a feat because Dorothy does'nt like to climb!		The two specks on the boulder

There you are!!	Baker and Byron on his heels, Crocodile Kyle led the expedition onward. The Lena Lake trail looks over the Valley of the Silent Men towards the Brothers, a principle summit of the Olympic Mountain range. The Brothers Wilderess Area is used mainly by fishermen and climbers who enjoy the sparkling streams and rapids and swirling green pools in the deep shade of the old-growth forest.	I don't need no toilet paper!
	At 1,800 feet up the trail is Lower Lena Lake. There are campgrounds on the west shore and they are popular in the spring months. Wear warm clothes in the fall because it gets cold and wet up there.

That eagles gonna have an upset stomach!

I'm at the bottom watching Bejonty, you better hurry back!

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