Big Quilcene River #833.1

Last year when I hiked to Marmot Pass the view was completely obscured by fog. Yesterday was a perfect day for the hike, and I'm glad we grabbed the opportunity to take it. Although it was hot on the ascent, there were enough cooling breezes, even while crossing the open avalanche slopes, to prevent overheating. We climbed the 3500 feet of elevation to Marmot Pass and then another 300 feet up the ridge to the south to the broad meadow that allows for an incredible view of the mountains, especially of Mt Mystery and Mt. Constance and all the peaks across the Dungeness. It's a much broader and impressive view than you get at Marmot Pass, and well worth the extra effort to climb the ridge. The view east was not as clear, due to a rosy haze (smog?), but you could see Glacier Peak and faintly other mountains in the Cascades. The hike would have been perfect if I had not been stung by a (bee? wasp? hornet?)--I never saw it as the light in the woods on the return was getting dim.