Forum Index > Trip Reports > Marmot Pass/Buckhorn Mountain 08/12/2010
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tigermn
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tigermn
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PostFri Aug 13, 2010 10:55 am 
Well decided to head west to revisit Marmot Pass and this time get up Buckhorn Mountain. Last September I got to the pass and was just out of gas for whatever reason so didn't do the peak.
Marmot Pass
Marmot Pass
Marmot Pass/Buckhorn
Marmot Pass/Buckhorn
Summary: Beautiful day temps stayed pleasant. Sun in and out was nice. Bugs not even a bother. Enough clouds around so distant/volcano peaks not visible but more than enough. Flowers putting on a pretty good show. More people on Buckhorn than I would have guessed on a Thursday morning. Left just before 5AM for the long 119 mile drive. Was hiking just after 07:45. Of course I discover I again left my trekking poles at home. Wanted them for the Buckhorn bootpath. Would have to look for a stick.
Big Quilcene/Trail to Marmot Pass.
Big Quilcene/Trail to Marmot Pass.
Starting up the lower trail is somewhat featureless other than the river down below.
Early trail to Marmot Pass.
Early trail to Marmot Pass.
Large blowdown on Marmot Pass trail. Go under or around.
Large blowdown on Marmot Pass trail. Go under or around.
Quilcene River on trail to Marmot Pass.
Quilcene River on trail to Marmot Pass.
I would pass the lower Rock Camp camp area.
Campsites at lower campground.
Campsites at lower campground.
Shortly after there you start to get some views.
Early views across valley on trail to Marmot Pass.
Early views across valley on trail to Marmot Pass.
Early views across valley on trail to Marmot Pass.
Early views across valley on trail to Marmot Pass.
Early views across valley on trail to Marmot Pass.
Early views across valley on trail to Marmot Pass.
Cross some more open areas and you can look up steep slopes towards Buckhorn.
Views up towards Buckhorn/Iron Mountain from trail to Marmot Pass.
Views up towards Buckhorn/Iron Mountain from trail to Marmot Pass.
Flowers start appearing.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Strange plants on Marmot Pass trail.
Strange plants on Marmot Pass trail.
Paintbrush on Marmot Pass trail.
Paintbrush on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
I suspect somewhere in here is the alternate way up Buckhorn directly up the slopes.
Views up towards Buckhorn/Iron from lower Marmot Pass trail.
Views up towards Buckhorn/Iron from lower Marmot Pass trail.
You duck in and out of trees up to Camp Mystery.
Marmot Pass trail through the flowers.
Marmot Pass trail through the flowers.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Views from Marmot Pass trail.
Views from Marmot Pass trail.
Camp Mystery on Marmot Pass trail.
Camp Mystery on Marmot Pass trail.
Plenty of water around Camp Mystery, in fact in places the trail was a creek. Could use a waterbar or two.
Creek running down Marmot Pass trail.
Creek running down Marmot Pass trail.
Past the camp you hit a nice open/flower area before traversing around the headwall.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Lupine on Marmot Pass trail.
Lupine on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Around the rock steep areas you traverse yourself into the basin below Marmot Pass.
Looking up towards Buckhorn mountain from Marmot Pass trail.
Looking up towards Buckhorn mountain from Marmot Pass trail.
Phlox on Marmot Pass trail.
Phlox on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Marmot Pass basin.
Marmot Pass basin.
Looking up to Marmot Pass. I wouldn't be alone.
Looking up to Marmot Pass. I wouldn't be alone.
Final push up to Marmot Pass.
Final push up to Marmot Pass.
Marmot Pass.
Marmot Pass.
There were some people sitting at the pass. I would snap a couple and continue to the Buckhorn bootpath turnoff just past the pass.
Views from Marmot Pass.
Views from Marmot Pass.
Views from Marmot Pass.
Views from Marmot Pass.
Views from Marmot Pass.
Views from Marmot Pass.
Heading up the bootpath the views get better as you climb.
Views heading up Buckhorn.
Views heading up Buckhorn.
Views heading up Buckhorn.
Views heading up Buckhorn.
Part way up Buckhorn looking down to meadow area below Marmot Pass.
Part way up Buckhorn looking down to meadow area below Marmot Pass.
Views from trail up to Buckhorn.
Views from trail up to Buckhorn.
Views from trail up to Buckhorn.
Views from trail up to Buckhorn.
The way is well defined but at times a bit steep on dirt and scree. I was glad I had the stick (even more on way down).
Looking up loose dirt/scree trail up Buckhorn.
Looking up loose dirt/scree trail up Buckhorn.
Views from trail up to Buckhorn.
Views from trail up to Buckhorn.
Views from trail up to Buckhorn.
Views from trail up to Buckhorn.
Looking up loose dirt/scree trail up Buckhorn.
Looking up loose dirt/scree trail up Buckhorn.
You can also look back down to Marmot Pass.
Looking back down at Marmot Pass from trail up Buckhorn.
Looking back down at Marmot Pass from trail up Buckhorn.
The trail eases a bit and reaches a nice false summit. The two that followed me up from the pass seemed to stop here.
Trail eases up Buckhorn.
Trail eases up Buckhorn.
Hiker ahead on trail to Buckhorn.
Hiker ahead on trail to Buckhorn.
Flowers on Buckhorn.
Flowers on Buckhorn.
Looking back towards Tubal Cain trail from trail to Buckhorn.
Looking back towards Tubal Cain trail from trail to Buckhorn.
Looking towards Buckhorn.
Looking towards Buckhorn.
Looking towards Buckhorn.
Looking towards Buckhorn.
After the false summit it dips a bit before the final push up past another knob and on to the summit.
Views from trail to Buckhorn.
Views from trail to Buckhorn.
Looking towards the Buckhorn summit.
Looking towards the Buckhorn summit.
A dip on the trail to Buckhorn before reaching summit.
A dip on the trail to Buckhorn before reaching summit.
Rock lines path in dip before Buckhorn summit.
Rock lines path in dip before Buckhorn summit.
Views from trail to Buckhorn.
Views from trail to Buckhorn.
Looking back down trail to Buckhorn.
Looking back down trail to Buckhorn.
Other than being dusty/scree line it is a pretty easy walk up to the summit. I did grab a rock or two to steady at times but probably not necessary. There are no spots of exposure that concerned me at all. None of those one wrong step and something really bad happens. At least not on the path/route I took.
Final push to Buckhorn summit. There is a bootpath all the way. At times somewhat steep and loose dirt/scree, but manageable.
Final push to Buckhorn summit. There is a bootpath all the way. At times somewhat steep and loose dirt/scree, but manageable.
Looking back down trail to Buckhorn.
Looking back down trail to Buckhorn.
I reached the summit. There were people around to my surprise. Still enough room to kind of find a place.
Buckhorn summit area.
Buckhorn summit area.
Views from Buckhorn summit looking down towards Buckhorn Lake.
Views from Buckhorn summit looking down towards Buckhorn Lake.
Zoom of Buckhorn Lake from Buckhorn summit.
Zoom of Buckhorn Lake from Buckhorn summit.
Tubal Cain trail above Buckhorn Lake from Buckhorn summit.
Tubal Cain trail above Buckhorn Lake from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
I spotted a guy coming up from not the trail approach.
Climber coming up from somewhere in valley containing Buckhorn Lake.
Climber coming up from somewhere in valley containing Buckhorn Lake.
I think his buddy who was already on top came a different way. As I sat the clouds started kind of rolling up and getting close but never covered were I was.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Pack and found walking stick on Buckhorn summit.
Pack and found walking stick on Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
Views from Buckhorn summit.
I would head down after about 40 minutes in the summit area. Temps were very pleasant and the clouds kept the sun covered at times.
Chipmunk heading down Buckhorn.
Chipmunk heading down Buckhorn.
Views heading down Buckhorn.
Views heading down Buckhorn.
Views heading down Buckhorn.
Views heading down Buckhorn.
Looking back at Buckhorn summit area.
Looking back at Buckhorn summit area.
Clouds move in over peaks near Buckhorn.
Clouds move in over peaks near Buckhorn.
Views on way down Buckhorn.
Views on way down Buckhorn.
Views back down to Marmot Pass on way down Buckhorn. Small snowpatch can be seen on main trail just past the pass.
Views back down to Marmot Pass on way down Buckhorn. Small snowpatch can be seen on main trail just past the pass.
It was a little scree like going down but no difficulties. The hiking stick helped in a few places.
Views of flatter area on Buckhorn.
Views of flatter area on Buckhorn.
Paintbrush on Buckhorn.
Paintbrush on Buckhorn.
Views and trail heading down Buckhorn.
Views and trail heading down Buckhorn.
Looking towards Marmot Pass from Buckhorn.
Looking towards Marmot Pass from Buckhorn.
Flowers on Buckhorn.
Flowers on Buckhorn.
Flowers on Buckhorn.
Flowers on Buckhorn.
Views  from descending Buckhorn.
Views from descending Buckhorn.
Phlox on Buckhorn. With some paintbrush thrown in.
Phlox on Buckhorn. With some paintbrush thrown in.
Back at the now deserted pass I would take a few pictures and start back down.
Meadow below Marmot Pass.
Meadow below Marmot Pass.
Snowfield crossing past Marmot Pass (not on trail to Marmot Pass).
Snowfield crossing past Marmot Pass (not on trail to Marmot Pass).
Views from Marmot Pass.
Views from Marmot Pass.
Trail about to head down from Marmot Pass.
Trail about to head down from Marmot Pass.
The beauty of the day would continue on the way down. I would see a smattering of people coming up but less than I would have expected. I guess most people up there earlier were camping.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Looking back up at Buckhorn ridge from below Marmot Pass.
Looking back up at Buckhorn ridge from below Marmot Pass.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Views up towards Buckhorn from Marmot Pass trail.
Views up towards Buckhorn from Marmot Pass trail.
Marmot Pass trail and flowers.
Marmot Pass trail and flowers.
Marmot Pass trail and flowers.
Marmot Pass trail and flowers.
Creek near Camp Mystery on Marmot Pass trail.
Creek near Camp Mystery on Marmot Pass trail.
Flower on trail to Marmot Pass.
Flower on trail to Marmot Pass.
Views up towards Buckhorn/Iron from Marmot Pass trail.
Views up towards Buckhorn/Iron from Marmot Pass trail.
Possible bootpath the hard way up to Buckhorn from Marmot Pass trail.
Possible bootpath the hard way up to Buckhorn from Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Flowers on Marmot Pass trail.
Views from Marmot Pass trail.
Views from Marmot Pass trail.
The last couple of miles can seem a little long. Did take one short Gatorade/snack break on the way down.
Log crossing to avoid mud on Marmot Pass trail near lower camp area.
Log crossing to avoid mud on Marmot Pass trail near lower camp area.
Lower Marmot Pass trail.
Lower Marmot Pass trail.
Lower Marmot Pass trail.
Lower Marmot Pass trail.
Finally back at the trailhead about 03:15PM and on my way for the even longer drive (due to traffic) back home.
Back to trailhead. My big stick left on the left. Get an arm workout while you hike.
Back to trailhead. My big stick left on the left. Get an arm workout while you hike.

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crabio
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crabio
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PostFri Aug 13, 2010 3:10 pm 
Love this hike. One of my favorites ! up.gif

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Highwalker's Daughter
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PostSat Aug 14, 2010 11:33 am 
Looking at your pics and TR brought back good memories of an incredible place.

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half fast
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half fast
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PostSat Aug 14, 2010 12:03 pm 
Nice TR and wonderful photos... up.gif up.gif This hike is on our short to-do list. Toooo many great places to see and do !! It sure looks like you had an awesome day in the Olys !!!! Thanks for sharing biggrin.gif .

It's all about the fun, oh and maybe the chocolate - half fast
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tigermn
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Location: There...
tigermn
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PostSat Aug 14, 2010 12:49 pm 
If it wasn't for the driving/time/gas to get over there I would hike more in the Olympics. I love it over there but it is a 2 1/2 to 3 hours (or more if you go more west) one way drive time to get there to a typical trailhead. I never even went over there at all until October of 2008 when I first did Ellinor (my first Oly hike) then last year I did a number of hikes over there. Never a bad destination it seems and so many choices!

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ChrisSullivan
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ChrisSullivan
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PostWed Aug 24, 2011 9:53 pm 
This is a really great trip report! Thank you.

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polesneeded
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polesneeded
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PostWed Aug 24, 2011 10:22 pm 
Thank you so much for your trip report!!! My husband and I are wanting to do this hike and your description and pictures really describe it well. Time for us to do it smile.gif

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tigermn
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tigermn
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PostThu Aug 25, 2011 8:49 pm 
This was last year though so conditions may vary. It was a great trip. I'm pretty sure it is all melted out at least from the way I describe. Not sure about from the other direction.

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