Search activities
Backpacking Building Blocks Student-Only Backpack

Field trip: Backpacking Building Blocks (B3) Course

Backpacking Building Blocks Student-Only Backpack - Tubal Cain Mine, Buckhorn Lake & Marmot Pass

This field trip will give B3 students the opportunity to try out gear and new skills on an easy overnight backpack with an experienced mentor. Marmot Pass is a classic backpack in the Olympics filled with gorgeous views, gorgeous flowers, and lots o' marmots! There's a goodly amount of elevation gain and loss, but every step is worth it. Preference will be given to Leslie and Susan’s group through July 9.

Contacts

Susan Conbere
Susan Conbere
Primary Leader
Placeholder Contact Profile
Mala Raman
Participant
  • Moderate
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 19.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 4,500 ft
  • Pace: 1.5ish
  • FULL (4 capacity)
  • FULL (2 capacity)
  • Sun, Jul 2, 2023 at 6:30 PM
  • Wed, Aug 2, 2023 at 5:00 PM
  • Cancellation & Refund Policy
  • iCal Google

Day 1: We will have a car shuttle in the morning to avoid the extra mile of hiking down the road. We will start our hike at the Dungeness Trailhead and hike 6.2 miles up the lovely and largely shaded Dungeness River to Boulder Creek, one of my favorite campgrounds ever. 6.2 miles, 2,500 feet.

Day 2: We will hike to Marmot Pass and make camp at the pass. This section is 1.8 miles, 1,040 feet of gain. After  some leisurely marmot viewing, we will take the long way up to Buckhorn Pass (avoiding the scramble) for even more amazing views. 4 miles out and back, 1100 feet gain. 

Day 3: We will complete the loop on the Tubal Cain Mine trail, returning to the car we left at the Tubal Cain Mine trailhead. 7 miles, 3,320 feet of loss. 

The leaders will host a Zoom call to discuss this trip on August 2 at 7 p.m.

We will meet at Tubal Cain Trailhead at 8:15 to leave a car behind and at Dungeness Trailhead (Co-ordinates: 47.8776, -123.1369 at 8:30 to start our adventure. You will need a NW Forest Pass to park. 

We are also happy to arrange carpools and to stay together at Sequim Bay State Park on Thursday night. (48.0401° N, 123.0290° W)

Route/Place

Tubal Cain Mine, Buckhorn Lake & Marmot Pass


  • Green Trails Tyler Peak No. 136
    Green Trails Olympic Mountains East No. 168S
    Custom Correct Buckhorn Wilderness
    Trails Illustrated Olympic National Park
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials, plus overnight gear as specified by the trip leader. 

This is Forest Service wilderness land and does not require a bear canister. 

Northwest Forest Pass for parking. 

Water will be available at Boulder Creek camp -- and then a mile away from Marmot Pass at Camp Mystery. 

Trip Reports