Marmot Pass via Upper Dungeness River Trail, Constance Pass — Sunday, Jul. 18, 2021

From the trailhead to the camp Handy Shelter the trail is in great condition other than a few little streams from melt out running across the trail. Mostly level, flat and wide trail with just a few root and rocky areas. At Camp Handy follow the trail down to the right to get to the shelter or stay left to continue to up the trail.

The trail becomes a little more rugged and the elevation increases to get to   Boulder Shelter. Stay on the trail and pay attention to the short rerouted section (Thank you Volunteers!) that had switchbacks but avoids an unsafe and eroding cliff where the old trail used to be.

I set up camp at the Boulder Shelter and then hiked up to Marmot pass for the sunset. The trail is in good condition with tons of wildflowers and the snowfield crossing right before the pass has melted out since last week. 

Boulder Shelter to Home Lake and Constance Pass: 

The first section of trail is in good condition except for one log across the trail that I had to crawl under. Once you reach the National Park Boundary, however; the trail is less maintained. Several downed logs to step over, and brush growing close to the edges of the trail making for a narrow pathway. 

This is a tough, technical trail so allow for more time than you think you need. Yes it is only a few miles but with the elevation, scree fields, a snow field to cross, and parts of the trail that have creeks running down it the hike can take longer than other hikes of the same distance and elevation. I  highly recommend hiking poles especially for the sketchy waterfall crossing which is a rushing river on a steep hillside that crosses the trail.

The wildflowers are abundant right now! So beautiful. Home lake is so pretty and if you turn to the left at the top of Constance pass you can climb further and see view of Mt Rainier and  even Mt Olympus. There are also some rock rings/forts/ windbreaks at the top that were cool to explore. 

Camped second night at Boulder Shelter camp and woke up at 6 am the next morning to the sound of helicopters starting the mountain goat relocation.