Buckhorn Mountain by Mount Constance perches above Marmot Pass in the Olympic Mountains. It’s one of the more accessible peaks in the area because of a trail. But it’s mainly the lesser foot traffic that makes it appealing to most.
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Buckhorn Mountain at a Glance
Access: Marmot Pass Trailhead
Round Trip: 13 miles
Elevation Range: 2480′-6988′
Gear: none
GPS track: available
Dog-Friendly: with guidance
Hiking Through Quilcene River Valley to Marmot Pass
Holy moly! I can’t remember the last time we experienced horrible wind gusts, but it was one of the books. The mist filled the valley when we hiked to Marmot Pass; it was breezy but not terrible. Then, without warning, it suddenly howled the minute we stepped onto Marmot Pass.
We later fought the headwind up the southwest ridgeline in the open terrain. There was enough snow that I wish I’d brought snowshoes. Despite having the vegetation, it was too thin to help keep us out of the gusts. But I was glad to see Buckhorn Mountain’s true summit being the closer of the two high points.
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The Windy Buckhorn Mountain Summit
Thankfully, the boulders on top provided cover, and we stayed behind the rocks during the entire visit. But not before we tagged the summit while keeping a steady footing when the wind died down somewhat. I couldn’t see the nearby Mount Townsend as I wanted and left the top after a quick break.
Talk about lousy timing; the crazy gusts suddenly died when we returned to the pass. It was as if someone had flipped the switch on a whim. Despite the sunny day, the wind ultimately killed the mood to enjoy the views. It was too bad since it was one of the few times we came to this side of the water.
See more trip photos here.