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nwhikerMy little loveling? Is an awesome hiker. We got to Lena Lake and back yesterday, for a total of approximately 8 miles RT when you add in side trips, with significant elevation gain, and she did it. Without complaining. She was incredible, and I'm so so proud of her.
Before I go into more of a trip report with photos, which I'll put behind a cut, this photo which I am not cutting:
The drive to Lena Lake was going to be long no matter what, but it was made longer by a mis-communication between dh and me. We got to the trailhead much later than we'd wanted, which stressed us out a bit, but we were pretty sure that even if the hike was long, we'd be fine: it was just a matter of how late we got home.
The trail begins on a long series of gentle switchbacks, gaining most of its altitude that way. What made for a very easy way up, of course, meant a long slog down, but that isn't until later. The first bridge crossing is over... dry rocks. That was odd. Lena Creek is underground at that point.
After that first bridge, the climb is a bit rougher, but still not too bad.
We reached the second bridge. Perry had set the pace for the whole hike up, pretty much, and I'm very proud of him: he was constant, not slowing up and speeding down :-), not that there was much down... Actually, that is probably the oddest things about this hike: until you reach the second bridge, aside from a 3m/10ft section of trail, it's all up one way, and down the other. Anyhow, he did well and that's a good thing.
From the second bridge, you climb up to the final ridge, and you get peek-a-boo snippets of view of the lake. There is a spectacular viewpoint, but there were people there and we didn't want to disturb them -we have three kids. We disturb by definition.- This is a very busy trail, but it was getting to later afternoon, so much quieter than it was earlier in the day.
We hiked around the lake for a while, crossing the inflow looking for a place to get to the shore, if only to throw a few rocks, and take a photo or two, but the lake is still very high, and such a place wasn't to be found.
Here is the inflow, that you cross on a log-bridge with a railing. This is upstream. I didn't take a photo of downstream, for some reason.
You fall? You die or drown, no two ways about it. I'm always nervous for the kids, and on the way back, Perry who was in front of me, suddenly dropped to a crouch. Turns out he wanted to grab a small piece of bark or a rock or something from the log that forms the bridge deck to toss it into the creek. My heart stopped. I was terrified he was going to fall or something, but he got back up, and went on. We got off the bridge, hopped across the tiny stream next to it, and I let Perry have it. What if? You know. If I'd been following too closely and not expecting a sudden stop, bumped into him. If it was Linnea who was following? If he didn't calculate his crouch well enough? WTF? I yelled for a bit, then I started crying and dh told Perry he expected a bit more common sense from him. We laid it on thick, but I hope the message got through.
We walked back to the viewpoint and got a few photos from there, see Linnea above.
And of course the obligatory "we were here!" photo. The kids -well, Perry and AC- hate them, but they amuse me.
More photos in the Flickr set.
The hike down was more difficult, at least for me, than the hike up. I guess -this is bizarre- I've lost some fat on my feet, on the tops, because my boots don't fit the same. It's not a problem for most hikes, but for a long downhill? It was. My foot was sliding around back and forth, slamming my toes against the front of the books. I expect to lose one toe nail, damnit. Oh well. So it felt very long.
We decided to take the Kingston-Edmonds Ferry back, and there was a two hour wait. Dh got the kids dinner around the ferry terminal, I read in the car. The problem? Smokers. I had to either keep the windows open and breathe in the disgusting smoke, or let the car idle. We did a combination of both, but all the clothes we had on yesterday reek of cigarette smoke. It overwhelms even sweat, suncreen, and DEET!
The ferry ride was pleasant, we got home, and went to bed!
It was a wonderful day, and a really nice weekend. We'll have my birthday dinner and the chocolate tart I made tonight! The kids were so much fun, and didn't squabble much, AC's only complained a bit about her knees, the weather was great, and it was just all around a pleasant, fun, hike and day!
And now I must go and check out the zillion birthday greetings I have on Facebook! I didn't have time yesterday!
Before I go into more of a trip report with photos, which I'll put behind a cut, this photo which I am not cutting:
The drive to Lena Lake was going to be long no matter what, but it was made longer by a mis-communication between dh and me. We got to the trailhead much later than we'd wanted, which stressed us out a bit, but we were pretty sure that even if the hike was long, we'd be fine: it was just a matter of how late we got home.
The trail begins on a long series of gentle switchbacks, gaining most of its altitude that way. What made for a very easy way up, of course, meant a long slog down, but that isn't until later. The first bridge crossing is over... dry rocks. That was odd. Lena Creek is underground at that point.
After that first bridge, the climb is a bit rougher, but still not too bad.
We reached the second bridge. Perry had set the pace for the whole hike up, pretty much, and I'm very proud of him: he was constant, not slowing up and speeding down :-), not that there was much down... Actually, that is probably the oddest things about this hike: until you reach the second bridge, aside from a 3m/10ft section of trail, it's all up one way, and down the other. Anyhow, he did well and that's a good thing.
From the second bridge, you climb up to the final ridge, and you get peek-a-boo snippets of view of the lake. There is a spectacular viewpoint, but there were people there and we didn't want to disturb them -we have three kids. We disturb by definition.- This is a very busy trail, but it was getting to later afternoon, so much quieter than it was earlier in the day.
We hiked around the lake for a while, crossing the inflow looking for a place to get to the shore, if only to throw a few rocks, and take a photo or two, but the lake is still very high, and such a place wasn't to be found.
Here is the inflow, that you cross on a log-bridge with a railing. This is upstream. I didn't take a photo of downstream, for some reason.
You fall? You die or drown, no two ways about it. I'm always nervous for the kids, and on the way back, Perry who was in front of me, suddenly dropped to a crouch. Turns out he wanted to grab a small piece of bark or a rock or something from the log that forms the bridge deck to toss it into the creek. My heart stopped. I was terrified he was going to fall or something, but he got back up, and went on. We got off the bridge, hopped across the tiny stream next to it, and I let Perry have it. What if? You know. If I'd been following too closely and not expecting a sudden stop, bumped into him. If it was Linnea who was following? If he didn't calculate his crouch well enough? WTF? I yelled for a bit, then I started crying and dh told Perry he expected a bit more common sense from him. We laid it on thick, but I hope the message got through.
We walked back to the viewpoint and got a few photos from there, see Linnea above.
And of course the obligatory "we were here!" photo. The kids -well, Perry and AC- hate them, but they amuse me.
More photos in the Flickr set.
The hike down was more difficult, at least for me, than the hike up. I guess -this is bizarre- I've lost some fat on my feet, on the tops, because my boots don't fit the same. It's not a problem for most hikes, but for a long downhill? It was. My foot was sliding around back and forth, slamming my toes against the front of the books. I expect to lose one toe nail, damnit. Oh well. So it felt very long.
We decided to take the Kingston-Edmonds Ferry back, and there was a two hour wait. Dh got the kids dinner around the ferry terminal, I read in the car. The problem? Smokers. I had to either keep the windows open and breathe in the disgusting smoke, or let the car idle. We did a combination of both, but all the clothes we had on yesterday reek of cigarette smoke. It overwhelms even sweat, suncreen, and DEET!
The ferry ride was pleasant, we got home, and went to bed!
It was a wonderful day, and a really nice weekend. We'll have my birthday dinner and the chocolate tart I made tonight! The kids were so much fun, and didn't squabble much, AC's only complained a bit about her knees, the weather was great, and it was just all around a pleasant, fun, hike and day!
And now I must go and check out the zillion birthday greetings I have on Facebook! I didn't have time yesterday!
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Date: 30 Jun 2011 16:38 (UTC)Hope you had a great (extended) birthday celebration!