"After the first glass, you see things as you wish they were. After the second, you see things as they are not. Finally, you see things as they really are, which is the most horrible thing in the world."
--Oscar Wilde on Absinthe
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robt98109 - Jul 23, 2010 4:46 pm
Re: Southwest SummitHi,
Were you able to see The Puget Sound and Cascades from the sw summit? Is the sw summit easier to hike than the ne summit?
Thank you
Rob
Kyle Bissell - Jun 28, 2009 8:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2009
Great OvernightMyself and two buddies backpacked to Camp Mystery and spent the night. We woke up the next morning around eight, had a light breakfast, and made our way up the mountain. It took about an hour and fifteen minutes to get to the summit from Camp Mystery. The views were excellent!
mkpatrick - Jun 1, 2009 1:21 am Date Climbed: May 30, 2009
Buckhorn Pass South RidgeGreat day to summit. Trail is clear of snow except for about 300 yards of postholing on the ridge between Buckhorn and Marmot Pass.
Trevin Ziegler - May 29, 2009 7:13 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2007
Lots of clouds :(Did this with SouthRaker and some other lucky fellers
Curtissimo - Dec 25, 2008 2:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2007
with Magellan and hiker Brentgreat views!
tleaf - Mar 11, 2008 5:04 pm
Pretty dirty up thereMy husband and I headed up towards Marmot Pass, got a little crazy and climbed the steep talus slope, route I,3 to the col between Buckhorn's two peaks. I always love climbing the "never-ending scree slope" but it was well worth the effort. Much more interesting than taking route I,2. We enjoyed the mountain to ourselves and had great weather.
bmwboarder7 - Jul 22, 2007 11:53 pm
Lucky Beautiful Trip in MarchSomehow we ended up backpacking in the Olympics in March with clear weather for three days. Buckhorn had great views of the other mountains, as well as a view back down the valley towards the sound.
awilsondc - May 29, 2007 12:01 am Date Climbed: May 26, 2007
Route Climbed: Marmot Pass and south scree slopesI spent a couple of nights at camp mystery over memorial day in '07. There was snow starting about 1/2 a mile before the camp, but it was quite consolidated and easy to hike in with just boots. The first night I headed up to scramble around on the south scree slopes of Buckhorn and ended up summiting since it was so close. No views due to the heavy clouds however... boooo. In the morning I headed up again, this time via marmot pass, and once again had no views. The scree skiing and glissading on the descents were ridiculously fun, and made up for the lack of views. I did manage to take advantage of a break in the weather at the end of the second night to get some pretty good views from marmot pass. All in all it was an amazing trip, I'll have to head back some time.
lukic - Feb 20, 2007 10:35 pm Date Climbed: Jan 27, 2001
Foolish but fun winter climbI went solo during a very small break in the weather. After summitting, I was glissading down a snowfield when I needed to self arrest to stop. That made a believer out of me when it comes to ice axe leashes.
NavySeabee - Sep 7, 2006 11:39 pm
Fun scramble from Marmot PassOne of many Olympic peaks I scrambled up the mid-90s. Made standard approach from Marmot Pass. Views were spectacular as with most eastern Olympic Mtns.
pacific_mud - Aug 24, 2006 4:07 am
First Mountain climbed, frequently returnI am a backpacker/scrambler. My very first mountain that I climbed was Buckhorn. It was nice and warm, bright clear day the first time. Time took: 6.5 hours. I have done it in as little as 4.5 hours (round trip). The way to save time (and burn muscles) is to skip the route to Marmot pass while between the to Buckhorns. Climb up the scree field and pick which one you want to start at! The Northeast is more of a scramble, but the southwest one is the taller.
Most of the time, however, I climb up to Marmot Pass and eat lunch just above it. (An excellent route to Boulder Peak) While bypassing West Peak on the North, reach the saddle and scramble (Class 2) to the top.
skimpyphud - Jul 13, 2006 11:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2006
Summit ConqueredRoute along ridge from Marmot Pass to the higher western summit at 6,988 feet. From the pass follow the Tubal Cain Mine Trail to the right and travel for a ways before following the way trail uphill to the right. This way trail is not on Custom Correct Maps. The way trail will lead over a minor peak and drop down to a saddle below the summit which required minor hand usage to ascend. Weather was partly cloudy with no snow on the route.
elizabethan11 - Feb 1, 2006 8:05 pm
Route Climbed: From Marmott Pass Date Climbed: August 27, 2001Beautiful hike from Quilcene trailhead to Marmott Pass and up Buckhorn. Gorgeous views to the Cascades, into the heart of the Pennisula.
shunra - Jun 2, 2005 8:18 pm
Route Climbed: Marmot Pass Date Climbed: 1 June 2005Reached the Western summit via Marmot Pass. Ocasional views in all directions, but never much, due to heavy cloud cover. It snowed as we made our way back to the pass. I love those mountain meadows.
I'd be happy to hear about ascentrs to the Easterm Peak, to Iron Mountain, Welch Peaks and Warrior Peak, if anyone has any information...
EasyPeaks - Oct 27, 2003 11:35 pm
Route Climbed: Marmot Pass Date Climbed: September 2002A very nice summit in the eastern Olympics. The day I was up was very clear. I could see from Mt Saint Helens in the S. to what , I believe, was the Tantalus Range in the Coast Mountains of B.C. The Straight of Juan De Fuca and the Vancouver Island mountains were also visible. This mountain is perfect for a dayhike, but the drive on forest service roads to the trailhead is a pain.
yayoubetcha - Dec 25, 2002 10:56 am
Route Climbed: saddle Date Climbed: July 2000The hike in is the best very beautiful wild flowers and plenty of shade to stay cool on a hot day in the Olympics
Dulton - Nov 12, 2002 10:10 pm
Route Climbed: Marmot Pass Date Climbed: August 10 2001Fun hike, better to do in two days i think. Great weather all the way up.
scottv - Jun 11, 2002 12:33 pm
Route Climbed: NE summit from saddle Date Climbed: June 9, 2002Fantastic hot weather with a nice breeze made for a fun scramble to the summit with Stefan Hampden, Zander Nosler, and Mila. Annie Reese, Julie Hampden, Megan Finaly, Blue and Ivy sunned themselves on the saddle, providing rescue back up and moral support. The scree skiing was a blast on the descent, the slump camp was a golden find by Stefan (water, clear views of Gargoyles and Hood Canal bridge, and a tree for hanging food!), and the riverside hiking was lush and cool. Note that there was some snow on the Poop Out Drag (steep section of trail above Shelter Rock Camp), dry trail to Camp Mystery (where a few tent-size patches had melted out), and snow beyond (someone else reported 5' at Marmot Pass).