Fastpacking overnight: Starting from the Duckabush Trailhead, I ran to the Upper Duckabush Campsite where I camped out. Then ran up to Marmot Lake, returning back to the Duckabush Trailhead.
The trail was well maintained up until you reach the burn area prior to the ten-mile campsite. For about a mile before ten-mile there were a fair amount of downed trees to cross with a few streams which were simple to navigate. There were some sections of overgrown understory flora but that just means it's been a healthy spring! After ten-mile the trail gets progressively more difficult as there are downed trees and several stream crossings (some just involve a hop-skip-jump while others may require you to get your feet wet.) There were some sections with a fair amount of wet mud but nothing unreasonable. Fording the Duckabush proved refreshing but simple enough. It is fairly wide but water only got to just above the knee in spots (I'm a 5'9" human.) Bear Line was nicely set-up for the Upper Duckabush camp with several good sites to crash.
In the morning, I head up to Marmot Lake. This involves one immediate ford again but if one is fairly nimble you can navigate along some downed trees across the water. Otherwise, it is an easy ford as the water is lower and less vigorous. The trail on up has some downed trees but nothing too difficult to handle as you progress upwards. There was a really awesome look at a snow covered stream heading downhill: This was easy to cross though you'll have to pay attention for where the trail leads out and picks back up again. Very cool feature revealing the transition from winter snowpack. The trail keeps a steady incline on up but at a nice grade. There is a second ford of one of the upper Duckabush river splits: this was more difficult. The water was moving swiftly while approaching waist height with some difficulty in visualizing your foot holds (this may have been a bit more vigorous due to snowmelt at this time of season.) Once across the ford it is a pretty nice incline on up to Marmot Lake reaching some snow patches starting at around 3500' or so. Nothing difficult to cross with the trail easy to see on over the snow patch. Once you turn the bend of looking at La Crosse mountain, you hit a snowfield at 4200'-ish. At this point you are on the approach to Marmot Lake but will have to use your own wayfinding to get there as the snowfield covers all. One can hear the snowmelt throughout as the sun bakes down the snowpack. It was very beautiful but be sure to pay attention so you are not walking over a running creek below. Only camp if prepared to camp on the snow.
From here, I merely reverse ran the route back out to the Duckabush trailhead.
Happy trails!
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