Marmot Pass

The trail to Marmot Pass is in great shape and it makes its 10.6 round-trip length considerably easier than some of the shorter trails I've taken this year. There were six other cars at the trailhead when we arrived at 10:15, and several other parties arrived later. This is a popular trail, even on a cold and cloudy day, such as this one. The first 2.6 miles to Shelter Rock Camp goes through gorgeous forest along and above the Big Quilcene. There are a number of giant first-growth trees along this route. Luckily, the clouds were high enough to allow us good views when the trail entered the open slopes and boulder fields. I could see Glacier Peak and other Cascade peaks to the east, which seemed sunny in the far distance, whereas our skies were thick with clouds. We stopped for lunch at Camp Mystery, and glad we did, because even there it was so cold we had to wear gloves to eat. We figured that the Pass would be even colder. Some descending backpackers told us that it was snowing up there as they left the pass, earlier that morning. The snow had stopped and most of it had melted by the time we got to the pass, but the views west were still obscurred by clouds. There was no point in climbing the several hundred feet up the knoll to the south of the pass, which we usually do when we hike this trail. There would be no view of Mount Constance. Besides, because the days are getting much shorter, we didn't want it to become dark before we finished the hike.