{"id":3957,"date":"2021-08-11T14:30:15","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T14:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/?p=3957"},"modified":"2022-04-19T03:19:35","modified_gmt":"2022-04-19T03:19:35","slug":"backpacking-in-the-buckhorn-wilderness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2021\/08\/11\/backpacking-in-the-buckhorn-wilderness\/","title":{"rendered":"Backpacking in the Buckhorn Wilderness"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Sunday, July 25 &#8211; Wednesday, July 28, 2021<\/p>\n<p>For our July vacation this year we had planned to go backpacking in the Eagle Cap Wilderness but instead headed to the Olympic Mountains.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The west is experiencing a bad drought and fire season this year. Although Portland was spared smoky skies throughout July, most of the eastern side of the state was not. The smoke maps looked bleak, and here is how the Joseph webcam looked on July 19:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358533377_702b663f10_c.jpg\" alt=\"Joseph webcam 7\/19\/21\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here is how that view looks on a non-smoky day:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51370841648_9681ab42e7_c.jpg\" alt=\"joseph\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Hiking under brown hazy skies was something we wanted to avoid, which meant we also had to throw out our backup plans in Idaho and Montana, where the skies were even smokier. We decided to head north to the Olympic Mountains. Most of the Olympics is included in the national park, which meant we needed backpacking permits. All the places in the park we wanted to backpack had no available permits, so we chose the Buckhorn Wilderness outside the park in the Olympic National Forest.<\/p>\n<p>We drove up on Saturday and found a roadside campsite not far from the trailhead. While eating dinner we were visited by a grouse mama and her four babies, who spent 45 minutes around the edge of our campsite eating their dinner. So great!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51356984173_5fc5c179b8_c.jpg\" alt=\"Grouse\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357492709_f3db12e64c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Grouse\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357493659_5892e67ca2_c.jpg\" alt=\"Grouse\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Day 1: Big Quilcene Trail to Boulder Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We packed up our car camping site and headed to the trailhead. Since this was a Sunday we were not surprised to find more than 50 cars parked there when we arrived at 8:50. Greg finished getting his gear together while I waited and we finally hit the trail at 9:35. Our packs weighed 40 pounds each. Oof.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51356015577_1089d95008_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trailhead\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We quickly entered the Buckhorn Wilderness:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357842040_29f8a26464_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Big Quilcene Trail is pretty much in the trees for most of the way to Marmot Pass:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51356085477_cc409e1593_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357563074_6f3543728f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At 1.8 miles we took a break at this waterfall which is not on the map. Greg didn&#8217;t tell me until later that he was feeling light-headed at this point and was having trouble forcing himself to continue:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357054188_c930d155f9_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We had already passed quite a few backpackers heading down and I finally asked one of them &#8220;Did all of you camp at Marmot Pass last night?&#8221; He said yeah, pretty much. Wow.<\/p>\n<p>At 2.2 miles we crossed another nice creek:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51356825731_12c321aa3c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At 2.8 miles we passed this &#8220;stoves only&#8221; sign. Campfires aren&#8217;t allowed above 3,500&#8242; which I think is fantastic:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357053313_32d37f1134_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Greg needed another break, so we stopped at this nice riverside spot for awhile:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357850560_481b823333_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51356092632_3e0b0681b3_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51356091162_303172c0c7_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At 3.2 miles we passed Shelter Rock Camp:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357857845_b5216b4fba_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At 4.3 miles we traversed an open slope where we started to get some views:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51356841906_1594446ef1_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51356099697_cbb1c872a2_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Just before Mystery Camp we crossed a nice little creek:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357202237_8f6c8bafb1_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The water flowing through the camp was a different creek, flowing from a spring. It&#8217;s the last water source before Marmot Pass and is quite lovely. We stopped here to filter water. Gaia said we had gone 5.4 miles, which I think was a little inaccurate:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358682024_2a25cd0323_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After the camp the trail traveled through a lovely meadow:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357952651_1b3a86939a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357953351_19a3b60cb0_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Then it began switchbacking up.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358964715_6fdb384f79_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We had a view down to that meadow:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357952061_66a598dd24_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A pollinating bee busy at work on the lupine:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358722394_36e6dc0369_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357241792_8d4196c90f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Just before Marmot Pass the trail curves around the edge of this big meadow. There are a lot of campsites in the trees here, which is where a lot of those people were camped last night. I hated to think that some people probably camped on the meadow itself:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358721349_439a9c0506_c.jpg\" alt=\"Meadow below Marmot Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>True to name, we saw a marmot here:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357989671_c2c3f5e307_c.jpg\" alt=\"Marmot\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359002165_42b131f618_c.jpg\" alt=\"Marmot\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At this point we had seen at least 100 hikers heading down over the course of the day. I FINALLY reached Marmot Pass after 6.2 miles (according to Gaia) and seven hours, at 4:20. Greg arrived 10 minutes later:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358721734_e18bfdf54a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Marmot Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357990586_736a77d83d_c.jpg\" alt=\"Marmot Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking down on the meadow just below the pass. This place was probably a zoo last night:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358220173_f63ee486ac_c.jpg\" alt=\"Marmot Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Buckhorn Mountain, which we would be hiking up in a few days:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357993346_2ed14f664a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Marmot Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Now we continued on the Big Quilcene Trail for the final 1.7 miles to Boulder Camp. Even though the light was terrible for photography, the first half mile after the pass was SPECTACULAR! It reminded me a lot of the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358000191_0334ff16b0_c.jpg\" alt=\"Amazing views\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357992611_7b4c7edc4c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Amazing views\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358006831_603d4fd08a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Amazing views\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358232338_a583f1733e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Amazing views\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We were pleasantly surprised by the number of wildflowers we saw along this stretch:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358743194_6a7b817195_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The trail started descending into the trees:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358270513_3d8f00256b_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358774824_0050a5d1af_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358045771_2ff58e7b0a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And then we reached Boulder Camp, whose historic shelter we could see from above as we approached:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357296377_3a7fc10b4f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357296072_abbc8b1dc2_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Boulder Camp was functional and there was a water source and that is all there is to say about it. There were only a handful of places to pitch one&#8217;s tent amongst the boulders and broken trees (from avalanches):<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358046816_2c88f0141f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A nice little creek ran along the edge of the camp:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360261953_22623bdb08_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Lacking other options we found a &#8220;site&#8221; that was a little uneven, but mostly flat:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358273233_d1b5a905ec_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This unnamed peak towered over the camp:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358777889_a5212b0fe5_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The shelter at Boulder Camp is off to the side and out of the way of the avalanche activity here:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358776029_975b08b976_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357297367_43ed3777c3_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357297202_e60622a6ba_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358777554_4b30a1c6f9_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The shelter has been heavily vandalized by people who just had to &#8220;leave their mark.&#8221; What is wrong with people? It was restored in 1994 and despite the graffiti seems to be in pretty good shape. It must have seen some maintenance in the 27 years since it was restored:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358272363_1f4f9d6c26_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There were some old cans in there, some of which were unopened:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358272268_0fd4674de6_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We got out our infernal heavy bear canisters and started making dinner:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358775759_c927e6d33a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It had been a very long day so we went to bed immediately after eating and completing our evening camp chores. It was a mild 60 degrees at 8:45pm.<\/p>\n<p>Mileage today: 8 miles<\/p>\n<p><strong>Day 2: Day hike from Boulder Camp to Home Lake and Constance Pass<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When we woke up Monday morning there was heavy dew on everything:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357312727_211d84400c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Even though &#8220;sunrise&#8221; at this location was technically 5:41am, the sun didn&#8217;t crest the ridge and bless our camp with sunshine until 8:50. However we could see the morning light shining on the mountains to our west, even as we sat in shadow:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358289593_ff04a70e76_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Today we were headed out on a day hike to Home Lake:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357315902_10c149b7e7_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358796329_8a753b4b07_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358290613_b4911fa39e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After awhile in the trees we started to get some really great views:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359076590_3aab47f7e8_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51357319652_f67ea8c929_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359079525_6b8d8784bb_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We crossed over from the Olympic National Forest into Olympic National Park:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359079315_902f9b8bf1_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We saw some nice wildflowers along the way:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358293613_a947db033f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Ahead of us we could see where the bowl was that contained Home Lake (not visible) and Constance Pass above:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359543019_a6b8803e41_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For the second day in a row we passed an unnamed waterfall that wasn&#8217;t on our map. It&#8217;s impossible to cross here without getting a little wet:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359542549_7f3c0790d5_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358062582_7912cd5b6c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Stretches of this trail were pretty brushy. I took these photos on the way back:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360256123_1912a35d4c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360760674_943c684ab3_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We crossed a large screen slope where we encountered the only patch of snow we would get close to the whole trip:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358065772_fcfbf674af_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358065282_4f2d316575_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Then it was a climb through the trees on the last stretch to Home Lake. We saw some nice heather in bloom:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359037218_41de9e6451_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Four miles from Boulder Camp we reached Home Lake:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359827855_844e764e40_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358818631_45f74660e8_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359547649_a3ec64b044_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358085477_11b165b287_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359842695_18713c4a34_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359563364_436e22851d_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359562999_4611320550_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake\" width=\"800\" height=\"423\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We had the place to ourselves and sat on the shore enjoying a break. This lake has no visible outlet, but the water level does decrease over the summer. The high water line was visible on the rocks behind us:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359056863_5cd117d50d_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We wanted to continue another half mile to Constance Pass and the day was getting warm, so we tore ourselves away from the lake and continued up the trail. There is a lovely gurgling snowmelt stream on the other side, flowing into the lake:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359840880_6da4d3e86a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Trickling stream\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking back as we climbed:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359903050_8c30438a29_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359116078_dac976208e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking to Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358891251_ea993b2c44_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking to Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On our way to the pass:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358142907_40c10c0d72_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking to Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359899600_a14ac1121f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking to Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360256713_ddefc39477_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And we&#8217;re there!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359619559_322e7d08c8_c.jpg\" alt=\"Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The views up here were pretty incredible:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51361042580_a2cb28e4e3_c.jpg\" alt=\"Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"487\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358150232_7dd0f47695_c.jpg\" alt=\"Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359851719_b2a849733e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360036231_2a00ae7528_c.jpg\" alt=\"Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359279697_613fbf8445_c.jpg\" alt=\"Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We could see where the trail continued to a high point over there, which is what those backpackers had told us about. We decided not to do that and we called it good here:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360257273_b6b9813d2d_c.jpg\" alt=\"Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Brothers:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51361047705_2cb36a2177_c.jpg\" alt=\"Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking back the way we came:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51358374602_626fa4b1b1_c.jpg\" alt=\"Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The pass area:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359853894_54761748c2_c.jpg\" alt=\"Constance Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>While Greg was wandering around photographing wildflowers I ran into a solo backpacker who had just arrived at the pass. That day he had hiked all the way from the Big Quilcene trailhead (where we had started yesterday), which meant he had already done about 12 miles. I asked if he was headed to Sunnybrook Meadows and he said past that, and he had about four miles to go. According to our map it was 4.7 miles from the pass down to the Dosewallips River Trail, so maybe that\u2019s where he was headed. What a long day with a lot of ups and downs! He said that the view from this pass was normally obscured by clouds so I guess we got really lucky being able to see the mountains unobstructed.<\/p>\n<p>Heading back:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359279322_6e931d99ac_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359278957_4ded6db1f0_c.jpg\" alt=\"Home Lake Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When we got back to camp at 6:30 there were even more tents than there had been this morning. We ate dinner and headed to bed.<\/p>\n<p>Mileage today: 8.4 miles<\/p>\n<p><strong>Day 3: Boulder Camp to Mystery Camp with a hike up Buckhorn Mountain<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Once again, we had to wait until nearly 9am for the sun to hit camp:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360765929_7c627e0008_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After breakfast we packed up camp and prepared to leave. I got my gear together than sat and read my Kindle for an hour while I waited for Greg to finish:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360039976_a8bb86d45e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We finally left at the very late hour of 11am. We retraced our steps back towards Marmot Pass where we had come from two days before. We had better conditions for appreciating the fantastic mountain views today:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359287572_dcf3986072_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51359287087_2def96e6ee_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360047296_8be12bbb6f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360278928_bd6bd536b5_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360278553_df8869a9f6_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51361068325_0050edceed_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360079696_68ec6c500b_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Nice wildflowers:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360067331_f6287f9e65_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360792964_ef92b5c1a1_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Almost back to Marmot Pass and Buckhorn Mountain is straight ahead:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51361092005_e5645d8c6c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Back at Marmot Pass:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360812594_c1db99748c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There is a popular user trail that heads south from the pass:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360086046_49ea6580f3_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking up Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>But we were heading up Buckhorn Mountain. We stashed our overnight packs in the trees, switched to day packs, and began the very steep ascent:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360811719_5d9dd98f7f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking up Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Every day we&#8217;d been having afternoon clouds, which is why I was eager to get an earlier start than we did. Unfortunately we did not beat the clouds. Looking back down at Marmot Pass:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360091466_64798c1ec4_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking up Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Greg coming up the trail behind me:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360312663_0d04ea6c33_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking up Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We saw a few hardy wildlowers:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360090271_56d72224f6_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking up Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We got to this spot about halfway up where we could see the summit (at left below) which was pretty socked-in. There were pretty good views from this spot, and we didn&#8217;t see the point in wasting time and effort going to the true summit if we couldn&#8217;t see anything up there, so this was our turnaround point:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360314663_551081d902_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking up Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360816139_bb12e4d5b2_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking up Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We sat here and took a break and enjoyed the mountain views:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51361521164_1bed7f8e76_c.jpg\" alt=\"View from Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51361494989_1596d1b829_c.jpg\" alt=\"View from Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Do you see a snow heart in the distance?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51361521579_34f5c1e5de_c.jpg\" alt=\"View from Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51361494144_b17c497ae3_c.jpg\" alt=\"View from Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We could see to the north where a second trail came up Buckhorn Mountain from the Tubal Cain Mine Trail:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51370489334_6379000008_c.jpg\" alt=\"View from Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51370488609_311d3c6cdc_c.jpg\" alt=\"View from Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>By the way, a few days later we would see Buckhorn Mountain from a distance while hiking from Obstruction Point. Of the two distant knobs, it is the one on the right:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51369489396_e1f360a748_c.jpg\" alt=\"Grand Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On the way back down to Marmot Pass we saw an adult horned lark and two youngsters:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360049897_d39498c782_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juvenile horned lark\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360806426_ecec46d5a2_c.jpg\" alt=\"Junvile and adult male horned lark\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Almost down:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360055697_357e4be209_c.jpg\" alt=\"Hiking down Buckhorn Mountain\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This being a Tuesday we didn&#8217;t see many people at Marmot Pass:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360819106_76613f3483_c.jpg\" alt=\"Marmot Pass\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>But we DID see a few marmots:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51361084073_5efc93eb6b_c.jpg\" alt=\"Olympic Marmot\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51361590384_5812a21a9e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Olympic Marmot\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We retrieved our overnight packs and descended from the pass:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360863071_8407790bd0_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51360107522_de81b8ee51_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On the way down we stopped to briefly chat with a hiker and pet her cute dog. We mentioned that we were headed to Camp Mystery and she said that&#8217;s where she was camped and warned us there was a large group staying there. Past experience has taught us that people = noise. There are trailside campsites beyond the main part of the camp, so with that warning in mind, we grabbed the first one we saw in order to be as far away from those people as possible:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51362211828_a822105ef8_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This spot also happened to be near the spring that was the source of the stream flowing through Mystery Camp, so we had a nice water source:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51361875660_76c9089f7a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mystery Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51361085863_e6dfee7176_c.jpg\" alt=\"Mystery Camp\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mileage today: about 4 miles<\/p>\n<p><strong>Day 4: Mystery Camp to Trailhead<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We slept well last night and our tent was dew-free this morning, yay! We could see the moon when we got up:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51362724169_84f1756707_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We ate breakfast, packed up, and headed down the trail towards our car. We saw WAY less people than we had on Sunday, of course:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51361992991_63fe390c22_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51363004220_31849c4493_c.jpg\" alt=\"Big Quilcene Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Mileage today: 5 miles<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Considering we didn&#8217;t have permits to backpack in the park, this was a great backup option. Except for that first day we were lucky to be able to be here during the week when there were fewer people.<\/p>\n<p>One thing we would do differently next time is start at the Upper Dungeness Trailhead on Road 2860 and hike up that trail to Boulder Camp, then use that as our base camp the whole time with day hikes to Home Lake and Buckhorn Mountain. That trailhead is the same elevation as the Big Quilcene Trailhead where we started, but because we went up and over Marmot Pass we had more elevation gain and loss. What a beautiful area!<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Map\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/51372432514_184d1ec3fe_c.jpg\" alt=\"Map\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Video:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Spectacular scenery in the Olympic Mountains!\" width=\"880\" height=\"495\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oYv8f5lBbqA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sunday, July 25 &#8211; Wednesday, July 28, 2021 For our July vacation this year we had planned to go backpacking<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2021\/08\/11\/backpacking-in-the-buckhorn-wilderness\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Backpacking in the Buckhorn Wilderness<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3969,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[240,241,161],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buckhorn-wilderness","category-olympic-national-forest","category-washington"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3957","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3957"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3957\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4190,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3957\/revisions\/4190"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3969"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}