Marmot Pass
Backpacking the Upper Big Quilcene trail
Olympic National Park
Sail on an early morning ferry out of Seattle and across the Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island. Stock up in Poulsbo and then make the 1 hour drive to the Marmot Pass trailhead.
Hike up to Marmot Pass, stopping frequently to catch your breath, spotting marmots in the valleys and finally reaching 6000 ft.
Camp at a secret spot along the ridge — you'll likely be able to find a flat with no other humans in sight. Unpack and finally savor the views that are so worth the sore legs.
Bonus points for climbing Buckhorn Mountain the next morning, adding another 2 miles and 900 ft to your roundtrip total.
Eat in Quilcene on the way back to replenish the sorely missed calories. Burgers and fries do it best.
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CLIENT: Eureka
For more stories from this trip, check out my photo essay on The Field.
photographer & creative director
Seattle, WA
