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View from dining area of Robin Hood Resort at Union, WA
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My friend, Tammi Hermann, invited me for a two-night groupon at Robin Hood Resort at Union on Hood Canal, very close to some nice hikes: Mount Ellinor, and Lena Lake, both in the neighborhood of Lake Cushman. We also took the time to identify potential camping locations in nearby state parks.
Our trip took us to the Kitsap peninsula via the Southworth Ferry on the 14th.
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A commuter's conundrum expressed on the piling next at the Fauntleroy ferry dock.
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We drove to the resort, found the office closed, and then drove to the Mima Mounds West of Olympia.
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Several trees rose from one of the dozens of mounds at the Mima Mounds site.
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Trunks of a clutch of maple trees at Potlatch State Park.
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The sight that greeted us at the beginning of our Mount Ellinor hike
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A friendly part of the Mount Ellinor ascent.
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A not-so-friendly part of the Mount Ellinor ascent.
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Hikers were invited to pack rebar and logs up the trail for trail maintenance.
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Tammy stood beside a recently improved trail that benefited from the logs and rebar.
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Back at the resort we dined, attended the resort's open mic night and enjoyed the hot tub. The next morning we rose early and hiked Mount Ellinor by way of Lake Cushman. The climb started steep and ended up to be a scramble up a rocky path that could have led us to the Mountain Goats that soon will be relocated to the Cascades. But the fog was nipping at our heels and I wasn't confident that we could descend without an injury, so I called off the hike within probably 200 yards of where we would encounter the goats.
We were in he neighborhood of 5,000 feet elevation when we turned back. The hot tub was particularly welcome that night because our muscles were a little sore.
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On the Lena Lake trail we found what appeared to be a dry waterfall that likely roars in the spring.
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On Friday we left early after collecting some sea shells along the beach. We went to Hamma Hamma and discovered the hike to Lena Lake, climbing with what appeared to be improved stamina. I found myself having trouble keeping up with Tammi -- or staying ahead of her. She had worried ahead of time that she was out of shape, but I was impressed with her speed, especially as we descended from Lena Lake at close to 3 mph, as fast as I've ever descended a trail.
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One of two log bridges on the Lena Lake Trail.
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Cedar logs along the trail, perhaps destined to be split for trail maintenance.
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Our destination -- Lena Lake
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At Lena Lake, two young interns with Olympic National Forest included us in their survey about how many people knew the proper way to defecate in the forest. One of them, Katie Spires, a University of Washington student, was kind enough to e-mail us a photo of a Mountain Goat at Lena Lake, below. A hiker we met on the trail said the goats would be netted, sedated, and moves to the Cascades.
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A mountain goat close to the edge of a cliff overlooking Lena Lake. Photo by Katie Spires.
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Tammi at Potlatch Park
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Hiking statistics for Ellinor:
Distance: 2.6 miles*
Conditions: Overcast, some foggy mist; higher altitude
Load: 19 pounds
Elevation gain: 1,500 feet
Hiking statistics for Lena Lake:
Distance: 6 miles*
Conditions: Overcast, very light rain
Load: 19 pounds
Elevation gain: 1,250 feet
Statistics, year to date:
Distance: 221.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 67,178 feet
Next Goal: 70,000 feet, my Fifth Rainier. 2.822 feet to go.
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Listless leaf left on a log
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A tree and its trunk separated by our walking path
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