Marmot Pass — Saturday, Apr. 27, 2019

Started out to be a beautiful sunny Saturday hike to Marmot Pass via the Upper Big Quilcene trail. This can be quite a busy hike during the summer month's, but today we didn't see even one other soul on this trail. Road is clear and dry. Few trees across trail and shrubs farther up, but not hard to get around. Trail was dry and snow free until just before the 3500 ft, then some intermittent icy spots that are easy to cross. More hard compacted snow the higher we went. Donned micro spikes before crossing largest avalanche chute, which showed signs of an old avalanche. Trail covered with small boulders near rock field, but not hard to cross. Continued up and lost trail in the snow in the bowl below the pass. Snow showed signs of someone else's tracks up to the pass. Donned snow shoes, but snow is hard and compact and I found it easier to just wear spikes. We decided to stop just below the pass, but the final ascent is totally doable. A large dark cloud had come in and it was starting to lightly snow. Total milage 10.5 miles.