Climber's Guide to the Olympic Mountains
By Olympic Mountain Rescue, Olympic Mountain Rescue Council, 
Olympic Mountain Rescue (Society), Olympic Mountain Rescue (Society)

SKOKOMISH-HAMMA HAMMA AREA

Gladys Divide, located above Flapjack Lakes, is 10 miles by trail from Staircase 
Ranger Station in Olympic National Park. From Gladys Divide, a traverse in very 
interesting alpine country can be made to First Divide and the Skokomish River 
trail. It is 13 miles by this trail to the same road end where the traverse started.

The Putvin trail from road #25 on the Hamma Hamma River can be used to enter the 
traverse in the middle near Lake of the Angels, (see approach to MT. Stone, 
Climbing Routes, page 49, for this route). The trail to Upper Lena Lake (7miles 
by trail from the Hamma Hamma River road) can also be used as a starting or ending 
point for a traverse in this area. All the traverses described here are located on 
USGS maps. The Brothers-Mt. Anderson, Enchanted Valley-Skokomish, and Mt. 
Skokomish-Lake Cushman Custom Correct Maps are also helpful.

Total distance for the entire trip to First Divide and return is 23 miles on trail 
and at least 8 miles cross-country.

Gladys Divide to Lake of the Angels

This trip can be done in 1 long day from the Skokomish River road. Distance is 10 
miles by trail and about 4 miles off trail.

At Gladys Divide, descend NE into the Hamma Hamma River drainage to an obvious flat 
avalanche meadow. It is difficult to contour across without losing elevation due to 
gullies and slide alder. A direct traverse over Mt. Henderson and Mt. Skokomish is 
long and involves climbing problems. From the meadow at about 4000 ft., climb NE up a 
draw to notches in the ridge extending south from Mt. Skokomish. Cross one of the 
notches to the cirque on the east side. Stay high here and cross the ridge north of 
this cirque to the next basin, which is the source of Whitehorse Creek. The lake shown 
on the map is Lake of the Angels.

Lake of the Angels to First Divide

This pleasant traverse in alp land is about 6 miles, and can be done in a short day.

From Lake of the Angels, climb a few hundred ft. NW to the pass above. From this pass, 
descend the head wall to the basin at the source of the Skokomish River. Climb N on scree 
and heather or snow to a saddle just W of Mt. Stone, which is located exactly on the 
national park boundary and the county line. This saddle has been known as "The Great Stone 
Arrow" due to rock markings in heather.

It is easy to walk down to Hagen Lake from this pass, and then contour WNW in heather and 
fir to the basin at the head of Crazy Creek. An easy ascent can then be made from the 
basin to the ridge crest S of Mt. Hopper. This point can also be reached directly from "The 
Great Stone Arrow" by following the ridge NW. A way trail leads from this point to the 
Skokomish River trail at First Divide, which is 13 miles by trail from Staircase Ranger 
Station.

Upper Lena Lake to Lake, of the Angels

This pleasant traverse, largely in alpland, is about 5 miles, and can be completed in 
a short day.

From Upper Lena Lake. 7 miles by trail from the Hamma Hamma River road, follow way trails 
southwesterly to the ridge S of Mt. Lena. Continue through the pass approximately 1.5 
miles SW of Scout Lake to the two lakes on the fork of Boulder Creek E of Mt. Stone. Pass 
the upper lake and climb SW to a 5900-ft. pass, which separates the Boulder and Whitehorse 
Creek drainages. Moderate snow and scree lead to this pass in the SE ridge of Mt. Stone. 
Descend and work slightly W to Lake of the Angels at the source of Whitehorse Creek. Lake 
of the Angels, in open heather, can also be reached via the Putvin trail from the Hamma 
Hamma River road.