Buckhorn Pass – Peak 6470

On Sunday the 19th of June 2011 (Father's Day), I sponsored a trip up to Buckhorn Pass and beyond, up to the un-named peak (peak 6470) on the Tubal Cain Trail. This was a nice high country trip into the alpine. I will refrain from calling it an early high country trip because by this time of the year, the whole trail should be pretty much melted out. This year, we have seen a very heavy snowfall year and a very cold spring. Much of the mountains of the Pacific Northwest are still blanketed in snow. High country trips like this should be easy to come by by now, but I will take what I can get.

I was originally going to be hiking up Mt Jupiter this trip but the Mt Jupiter Road is closed all year due to a timber sale. A recent trip report I had read showed the Tubal Cain trail was clear most of the way up to the pass with only the last couple of miles under snow. I thought it would make for a nice trip.

We met at 7:30 am at the park and ride on the east side of the Hood Canal bridge. Isaac and Soon rode with me, while Kyle and Craig rode in Craig's car. We arrived at the trailhead around 9:00. After donning our hiking boots, gaiters, packs and lathering up with sunscreen, we hit the trail.

The trail was snow free all the way to the Tubal Cain Mine camp. Along the way, Soon found a few morel mushrooms. The going was easy, no snow and a gentle grade. A few creek crossings to make things interesting. When we arrived at the camp, I showed Isaac and Craig where to find the abandoned mineshaft while the rest of us made gear adjustments and grabbed a few snacks.

After the creek crossing at the camp, the trail gets a little steeper and we started running into the first patches of snow. A few of the crossings were across steep snow so attention was drawn to the fact that a slip could be harmful. Ice axes came out and we continued on. Eventually we came to a part of the trail that starts switchbacking up the mountainside and the trail was temporarily lost in the snow. After some scouting we decided that the best course was to go straight up. We were surprised when we found the trail again after doing this.

Eventually we found ourselves just below the pass. We actually never made it to the pass proper, but just over a little knoll and we would have been there. We decided to have lunch right where we were. It was very pleasant out, not too hot and not windy at all. I clambered over to the ridge to have a look at the Dungeness valley and let out a YAHOOOOO! Afterward, I made my way over to the others and had lunch.

After lunch we all decided to head up another 500 feet to the top of peak 6470. Craig I think had enough and decided to wait for us at the pass. After about 20 minutes of climbing we were on top and celebrating with some photo ops.

The way back was un-eventful. I stopped to take some pictures of the flowered hillside and we were all on the lookout for more morel mushrooms. All in all, it was another great day in the mountains!

Hike was around 15 miles RT, and 3200 feet of elevation gain.