olyclimber

Looks fun!

Trip: Mt Bretherton and Mt Lena - North Ridge for Bretherton and straight up Lena Date: 6/25/2016 Trip Report: I climbed Bretherton and Lena this past weekend from Upper Lena lake. I left Friday afternoon and after a ferry wait and etc I didn't get to the Lena trailhead till 8pm. I had a 5$ reservation to camp up at the upper lake so I decided to get up there that night. I strapped my climbing boots on to my pack so they would kick me in the head every time I pitched forward and forgot to put my FS parking pass on the rear view mirror, and then I headed up. Ran into family of 5-6 goats well before the lower lake, down pretty low for them it seems! I made to the lower lake before sundown, and was able to make it up above the "rock steps" of the upper lake trailhead before it was so dark I had to break out my flashlight. Made it to the upper lake at about 11:30. I slept in Saturday and then headed up to Bretherton. For the North Ridge route, before you get to Milk Lake you take the ramp on the left side of the false summit up to the ridge top. As you climb up that you have awesome views of East Lena, The Brothers, and the Constance group. Luckily I took pictures as I hiked, because that area became socked in once I got to the summit. On the ridge top you san see into the interior of the Olympics and right across to Mt Stone. The alpine traverse from Stone to Lena sprawls out right across the valley. On the ridge you drop to the left a bit to circumvent some rock and then on the right side of the ridge there are ledges up to the summit. There are a couple of ways of doing it, I may have regained the ridge to soon on the first drop down to the left, but it wasn't bad...in fact pretty fun. The last ledges on the west side of the ridge up to the summit were fun too, and then you're there. At this point the Brothers were socked in, but the view out to Rainier was nice and the sea of clouds. To the south the mountains came in and out of view. I decided to descend via the south end of the Milk Lake cirque so I could go down and see the lake. A couple times I thought maybe I should have just went down the way I came. The rock was loose and there were big blocks just waiting to go, but grabbing on to brush I was able to get down safely to a snow finger which I downclimbed and then made my way down to the lake. Over all, I don't know why anyone would do anything other than the North Ridge route (unless you're coming over from the Putvin side). The rock it terrible and unless you're solo, its gonna be treacherous. And the views along the North Ridge are awesome. I would honestly just replace everything in the Oly Guide book with this North Ridge description. I spent the rest of the day down at the lake sitting in a chair I brought up and reading this book about the Leyte Gulf battle in WWII. The next morning I got up early and headed up the cherry plumb line I scoped on Lena heading up from the NW corner of the lake. I did a brief bit of Slide Alder Yoga and right before leaving that I paid my respects by fertilizing the alder with my morning constitutional. To my dismay someone had already plucked the line up Lena, flagging led the whole way...straight up and then to the left to get to the top. I'm not sure why you would flag that, but there it is. The views from the top of Lena are really awesome. All my favorite peaks....the Brothers, the Constance group, Mt Stone, my new favorite Bretherton....the Pershing/Washington/etc mass to the south. Views up north and to the west...awesome. Not to mention Mt Rainier, Adams, and St Helens...and Baker to the north. Could even see downtown Seattle. I had the place to myself. After a while, I decided to head back down and out to spend the afternoon with my son before he grows up and moves out. This was my 5th weekend in a row up the Olympics...the place where I grew up, hiking trails in the Scouts and leading kids out there a week at a time when I worked at Camp Parsons. All those peaks are old friends now, but there are still a bunch of them I haven't visited yet, so I have a lot to look forward to it this summer and beyond. The trail down was a lot more pleasurable during the light of day, its a nice hike. Gear Notes: crampons and axe where nice to have for north ridge bretherton. trekking poles nice to have for lena scramble.

I just milked a mama grizzly and drank it all in front of the cubs.

I'm just gonna be (hopefully) bagging a peak or two, if my bad back permits. I'm gonna head up there tonight. Tomorrow maybe head up Bretherton if I'm feeling good and tag Lena on the next. Or something like that.

Latest pics I have seen of that area are from Hummel & Co's epic TR: http://www.myadventurecrusade.com/2016/05/27/the-olympic-traverse/

I've up to the Anderson glacier (or what is left of it) a couple of times but never up either peak. I do want to go tag at least Anderson, but figured it to be something I would prefer to do in 3 days to properly enjoy the climb and area. Camp up at the glacier, etc. Longer approach with the road out, though bikes make that extra 11 better! My lower back went out this week, so I'm debating what I'm gonna do. May just hike up to the Upper Lena and check things out up there both days...been a while and I've never spent the night at the upper lake before. Lets get out there this summer! Wesside4life!

I know it isn't apparent, but I'm actually from Seattle (West Seattle). But I don't care where you are from. I only care that you have a sense of humor! that is the most important equipment I carry.

I know its not either, but I just got a pair of Trango Cube GTXs off of ebay...used but brand new from some guy in Indiana. They are super comfortable! I'm replacing a pair older Trangos (not sure which model)...but the shoe box is way better with the new ones. My old boots were good, but not this good! Can't speak for the Scarpas, but I do have a pair Scarpa mountaineering boots that I keep because they fit. I think that is the biggest deal with mountaineering boots. Just find something that fits good and comfortable. I have had boots that didn't fit and tried to make them work in the past...stupid. Return them or sell them if they are hurting your feet and go get something that works for you. Boot fits always seem to be changing so just believe in your feet when they tell you what to buy or keep.

I decided to take the plunge and get an Enlightened Equipment quilt. I do have a couple bags, including a Western Mountaineering bag and a Feathered Friends bag. I use both the current bags depending on the conditions (the FF bag is slightly warmer), but I'm not sleeping out much in super cold conditions and I prefer concept of a quilt...the reality...I don't know. I know that much of the time I end up using my FF or WM bag like a quilt anyway to regulate. So I'm going to try a quilt. I am a big fan of Feathered Friends though.

now below .500. wow. its like they fell off a cliff. whose head should we call for first?

unfortunately I don't think REI carries this, but I'm thinking about getting one for permanent installation on my car: http://bumperdumper.com/bumper2.htm

OK...here is a challenge. Can anyone fine another product to challenge this one as most ridiculous product that REI carries?

Wow what an awesome trip, and awesome pictures. Thanks Jason. Beautiful and stoke inspiring.

That REI even carries this says a lot about them. ~11 pound 3 season, 3 person tent. $700, but doesn't include the necessary pump. seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

https://www.rei.com/product/101572/heimplanet-the-cave-3-tent?cm_mmc=ad_gdn&CAWELAID=120217890002529050&CAGPSPN=dyn&CAAGID=8665495224&CATCI=aud-87986356584&gclid=CP-SnPLAvs0CFUmRfgodBycOkA

is it true that you shit yourself after getting choked out by Gene LeBell?

Awesome Stewie, lessgo! PM'd you my phone number. A weekday might work for me as well, but gotta plan those ones.

Ah now that makes more sense. I mean you can see the trail in the snow in the video...that would be a crazy fall from the cliffs of the Tooth....not even possible. Best wishes, I hope he is ok. Terribly unlucky, some times you just trip in the wrong place and it can be very bad. Hoping for the best outcome.

This is sort of open ended, but I'm just looking for other people who might have time to scramble/climb peaks on the eastern side of the Olympics this summer. I have a list of peaks I want to get up, and all should have awesome views if the weather is good. I'm not picky as long as its in the alpine so hit me up if you have something in mind...over wise I definitely do. Nothing too hard, unless you want to lead it all. I don't care if it is a backcountry schwack, a scramble, or just a trail...all good to me.

Awesome! Happy birthday man. What a way to celebrate....big 4-0 is next! Just stay fit, you'll be fine.

Dang I was gonna say the Tooth, but looking at the video thought he was just scrambling somewhere. Based on the vid looks like he fell a long ways.

thats funny. I was trying to look at the pics this morning, but the link to the shutterfly the David had hosted them on was dead. then low and behold you provide a new link this afternoon! interested in scrambling up Lincoln soon from Mildred lakes. thanks for updating.

did you know i was trying to look at the pics?

What did he fall off of?