Elevation Gain: Approximately 1300 ft
Time: 9 am - 10:55 am
Weather: Rain with periods of stronger rain and strong winds.
I did not know where I was going to hike, or even what day I was going to hike this weekend until late Friday night. The weather was going to be much better on Saturday, but my Alma Mater, Oklahoma State, was playing in a nationally televised college football game on the road against Texas A&M. I also had a party in Seattle Saturday night, so I looked around for a hike that would keep me busy all day Sunday, even though I knew I would be wet all day. I choose to hike to Upper Lena Lake, a 14 mile round trip with some good elevation gain. I got up around 6:10 am and began getting everything ready: day pack with rain gear, a chair, first-aid kit, emergency glasses, ankle brace, iodine, and pocket knife, a set of dry clothes for after the hike, boots, poles, gaiters, and camera. I was shuttling all this into the car with the plan of buying some snacks at the market down the street on my way to the trailhead. I was packing some left over snacks into my day pack from my last trip which ended on Thursday. I had leftover Luna Bars, Cliff Mojo bars, some pita bread, some almonds, and Gatorade powder. I closed up my pack, turned out the lights, locked the doors and left around 6:50 am. I was at Safeway, and I decided to get a coffee and pastry and not worry about snacks for the day. I was on the road by 7:00 am.
I knew the way well enough, since I was here before. In week 30, I came up to the Lower Lena Lake and snowshoed a bit north past the lower lake up into the "Valley of Silent Men." This week, I was excited to go see the Upper Lena Lake. I was at the trail head at 8:40 and began getting ready. I was thinking of immediately putting on my rain gear. It had poured rain the whole drive with the heaviest periods of rain being in the last few minutes before I had parked. I went to the back of my Subaru, opened the back, and did not see my pack. I knew immediately that I had left it in the kitchen. I was pretty mad with myself. I could not go back, get it, and come back. I could not hike 14 miles with what I had with me. I thought for a minute. I was wearing long underwear top and bottom, sock liners, wool socks, Adidas shorts, a synthetic pullover, a stocking cap, hiking boots, and gaiters. I knew I had dry clothes when I was done with the hike, and I knew it was only 6 miles up to Lower Lena Lake and back. I decided to hike to the lake and back, hoping to be done in 2 or 2 1/2 hours. I did have an empty water bottle, so I placed that in a place near the trailhead that was getting a lot of rain. I grabbed my poles and took off at 9 am.
I was plenty warm as I started, in fact I was a tad too warm. I think I was hiking pretty fast when I began. I was a little mad at myself. Funny how I can have so much experience, but still make huge, simple mistakes, like take your pack with you on a hike. I started sweating and slowed down after about 10 minutes on the trail. As I climbed the switchbacks, I began recognizing parts of the trail and seeing many backpackers on their way down. A big group of young men and their fathers were the trail company for the next 20 minutes. As usual, the kids will say hello and keep walking, but the dads are usually willing to chit-chat. I shared in some of my small chats with the trail company how I had driven two hours when I realized I forgot my pack. There were a lot of people heading out, and I chatted a minute or two with several people. By 8:45 am, I could feel I was getting close. There was a camp bulletin board and a posted sign marking both lakes and The Brothers, the two side-by-side peaks above the Valley of Silent Men. I began to see small slivers of the lake through the trees on the right side of the trail. I passed a family of four plus their dog, where the little girl and older brother had to be less than 7 years old. Right behind the dad and pup was a view of Lower Lena Lake. I dropped my poles, took a few photos, glanced at my watch (it was 8:55), and took a few deep breaths looking at the lake. I grabbed my poles and took off back to the car.
I passed the family in a few minutes and was cruising at a bit of a jog. As I was coming down, I saw a gray trash bag on the trail. One of the many backpackers that I had seen on the way up had dropped a perfect garbage bag. I picked it up and made it into a rain poncho. I was already soaking, but this would help a bit. I hiked down steadily, passing many I passed on my way up, and enjoying being warm although wet. I was back at the trailhead by 10:50 am. I went and found my water bottle, which was full, and went to my car. I went to the restroom and changed into dry clothes, socks, and shoes. I used the trash bag poncho as my wet clothes transport and walked back to my car. I was home in two house, loading my wet gear into the dryer. When I realized, I don't have my long underwear bottoms.
Orchid: Hiking 6 miles in the pouring rain with the clothes on my back, trekking poles, and a found trash bag.
Onion: Hiking 6 miles in the pouring rain with the clothes on my back, trekking poles, and a found trash bag because I left my day pack at home.
Picture:
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