Marmot Pass, 3-day trip

On Memorial Day weekend, we took a 3-day backpacking trip from the Lower Big Quilcene Trail to Marmot Pass.

Mileage: 22 miles round-trip

Pack weight: 60 lbs. each (Yes, we were on a death march.)

Elevation: 1200'-6000'

Calories Burned: 10,000+

Day 0 (zero): We packed

...while Willis (our dog) watched, patiently.


Day 1: With a late start (Michele worked until 11am, so we didn't get to the trailhead until 3pm.), we hiked from the Lower Big Quilcene trailhead through trees and over bridges...

and decided to stay at Camp Jolley for the first night.

Here, we met a father-son team and their dog, Tanner - a beautiful golden retriever who kept watch over night - while snoring.

Day 2: Left Camp Jolley, hiked 30% grade while crossing various terrain - including downed trees (it was a harsh winter), waterfalls...

streams, typical dirt trails...

a few dead trees, but mostly green ones!

Talus - the accumulation of broken rock that lies on a steep mountainside.

(Or what we call TONS OF ROCKS!)

We went snow shoeing for the first time!


(Yes, that's Michele in the pink shirt.)

And we ended the day at Camp Mystery.

This was our first time snow camping. If you were a fly on the tent wall or a marmot in the pass, you would have giggled at our conversation... Richie thought the cooking stove might melt the surrounding snow...

and I thought the tent might slowly sink into the snow throughout the night from our body heat.

Imagine sleeping soundly, warmly cuddled in your sleeping bag, and you wake up a foot lower! Or you wake up and step out to answer nature's call, only to walk into a wall of snow! Luckily, neither happened.

Day 3: We hauled it down hill (mostly) from Camp Mystery back to the Lower Big Quilcene trailhead.

Truly an adventure!