[TR] Stone Ponds Traverse - 7/31/2010

[Fairweather]

Trip: Stone Ponds Traverse -

 

Date: 7/31/2010

 

Trip Report:

This cross-country route is described in the Olympic Climber's Guide and lies between Upper Lena Lake and Lake of the Angels. Pope and I stashed bikes at the Putvin trailhead, drove back to Lena parking lot, and hiked to Upper Lena Lake in the late morning hours. The amount of snow still at/above 4700 feet in the Olympics this year is shocking. Upper Lena is still 95% frozen/snow covered, and the traverse along the ridge is about the same. Deerheart Lake is starting to thaw, but the Stone Ponds are still buried in snow completely. The climb to St Peter's Gate is all snow and nice step kicking was done w/o crampons. Lake of the Angels itself is thawed, but the lake shore and basin are still 100% snow covered. The meadow below is a bog. Saw a big black bear on the way out the Putvin trail and ended this day trip with a nice bike ride down the Hamma Hamma Road to the car.

 

Mt Stone

 

The pond at the head of Boulder Creek

 

Reloading

 

Looking up toward ST Peter's Gate

 

Classic Olympic mystery fog

 

Cruiser from St Peter's Gate

 

Gear Notes:

Ice axe

Solid Boots

[OlympicMtnBoy]

Nice, I've always wanted to do that little loop!

[Off_White]

The Olympics are really great for that sort of 3rd class mountaineering, that trip is going on the list. Thanks for the TR

[bremerton_john]

That traverse is one of my favorites. The snow is amazing for this time of year.

[mtn_mouse]

One of my favorites too. I did it in October once, and the huckleberries really slowed us down!

[olyclimber]

wow that is a lot of snow for july/august. fun route, did it in the reverse direction and included the summit of stone. thanks for the tr/photos.