After a rough winter and a long period of inaccessibility at Lena Lake, I wanted to scout out the roads and hike up to Lena Lake as I'm leading a hike there this coming week.
Exploring the new and improved Whittaker Wilderness Peak trail with good company.
Launched from Edgewater Beach Park in Mukilteo to look for grey whales.....only saw spouts about a mile away.
Snow is half gone up to the hut, but beyond is beautiful snowshoeing!
Seven intrepid souls took a chance with a marginal weather forecast to hike the Big Creek loop up to the big tree ridge. We kept a moderate pace, gained 2300', had great conversation, and avoided getting rained on!
Gorgeous views in all directions, most particularly of Mount Rainier (that initial view as you reach the summit is probably why they named it Mount Wow ;). A great workout with a variety of conditions and route finding puzzles (made a bit spicier by an incoming afternoon storm).
Lovely solitude on a sometimes very popular trail, but caution required.
A short snowshoe trip in at times dense fog and light falling snow
Beautiful day for Old up and New down for Mailbox Peak. Compact snow & ice on top - bring those microspikes.
A nice gentle Class III on a lovely winter day with beautiful scenery and good company! Photo credit: Scott Tillman
Log crossing Nisqually River, no snowshoes necessary.
Great winter scramble up Mt. Ellinor on a gorgeous day. Snow conditions were good early in the day and the couloir was fairly easy to navigate.
a fantastic XC ski outing - to windy pass & an add on excursion around windy acres