Hibox Mountain - 10.25.2011
rodman's GPS route for our climb of Hibox Mountain... 7.4 miles roundtrip, gaining 3787 feet of elevation.
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Start at the Rachel Lake Trailhead... from I-90, take the Lake Kachess Exit #62 and follow signs to the Lake Kachess Campground... turn left and drive FS 4930 for 4 miles to a junction... turn left and drive .2 miles to the trailhead (2800').
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After hiking ~1.5 miles on the Rachel Lake Trail, we got our first good look at Hibox Mountain.
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BarbE points to the orange tape that signals the spot (3280') where we left the Rachel Lake Trail and started for Hibox on an obvious boot path.
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Looking down on Snowdog as she uses a veggie belay to gain elevation.
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Snowdog and rodman negotiate one of several down trees along the way.
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Fall colors.
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BarbE in the vegetation... the other folks are also in the photo, but difficult to find.
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BarbE and Izzy watch larman, Snowdog and rodman ascending the steep hillside.
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Hibox Mountain from our snack spot (~4700').
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A closeup of Hibox from our snack spot... nice rock formations on the hillside.
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The trail winds its way through the rocks.
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Looking south to Mt. Rainier in the distance... Rampart Ridge (center) and the ridge (right) that leads to Alta Mountain.
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Our motley crew... Izzy, BarbE, rodman, Snowdog and larman.
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A closer look at our motley crew.
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Still ascending.
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rodman and BarbE ascending.
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High enough now to find a dusting of snow.
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Just enough snow to make it slippery.
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A closeup of Mt. Rainier to the south.
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Pretty much rocks from here on.
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Izzy handles the scout duties.
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Looking over to Alta Mountain as we continue up.
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rodman, Izzy and BarbE heading for the SE ridge of Hibox.
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Summit, summit... where is the summit?
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larman and Snowdog heading for the SE ridge of Hibox... Rachel Lake in the center of the photo.
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Still looking for the SE ridge of Hibox.
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One of several sucker gullies on the way to the SE ridge.
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Just another sucker gully.
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We have reached the SE ridge (~6400')... only another 150 feet of elevation to reach the summit... but the dusting of snow will make it an interesting 150 feet.
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A nice view of Three Queens from the ridge... Izzy relaxes in the snow... Mt. Daniel in the distance on the left... Mt. Stuart to the right.
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Looking north from the SE ridge of Hibox.
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A closeup showing Glacier Peak in the gap between Chimney Rock and Summit Chief Mtn.
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Starting up the SE ridge... we will be able to use our poles for a short distance.
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rodman got this shot of Snowdog starting up the first chimney.
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The snow and ice in the first chimney made it a tough go for Snowdog... I will go around to the left and see if I can find an easier route.
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rodman got this shot of me above Snowdog ... I did find an easier route to get above the first chimney... Class 3, but a better choice than the chimney.
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Snowdog backing down the first chimney.
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rodman and BarbE on the Class 3 portion of the climb that avoids the first chimney.
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Still a ways to go to reach the summit in the distance.
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rodman and BarbE still on the Class 3 section.
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larman and Snowdog coming up.
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Easy does it here.
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rodman has a look of determination on his face... or is it fear... or both?
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rodman, BarbE and Snowdog ascending... at this point larman is watching Izzy below and will come up after Snowdog summits and returns to watch Izzy.
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The chimney on the far right looks like it will go, but I'm going to go around to the left and make sure the chimney will work.
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The chimney worked and we will be on the summit soon.
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Snowdog makes the final move to the summit.
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Snowdog on the Hibox summit (6547')... Kachess Lake in the distance.
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Summit shot... BarbE, rodman and Snowdog.
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BarbE on the Hibox summit... Snowdog (left) is descending to watch Izzy and let larman come on up.
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ragman and rodman on the Hibox summit.
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Looking west (left) across Alta Mountain to some of the Snoqualmie Pass summits... Mt. Thomson (center) and north (right) across Huckleberry Mountain to Big Snow Mountain.
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Looking north... Park Lakes below.
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A stitched photo of the previous two photos.
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larman nearing the Hibox summit... Three Queens in the left foreground... the Chiwaukum Mountains (left) on the horizon... Mt. Stuart (center) on the horizon.
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Looking north.
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Summit photo... BarbE, larman and rodman... all smiles.
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Heading down now... still work to do.
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Waiting to exhale.
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One step at a time.
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Looking back at the summit.
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Patience works well here.
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Breathing easier now as Snowdog watches from below.
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Almost back down to Izzy and Snowdog.
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BarbE got this shot of rodman, larman and ragman on the Class 3 portion near the first chimney.
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Izzy and rodman posing before we leave the SE ridge of Hibox... Kachess Lake in the distance.
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larman shows off his knee wound on our descent... just a scratch that bled a lot.
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Looking back at Hibox as we descend.
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Fall colors as we descend... still a ways to go before we get back down to the valley and then an easy two mile hike back to the trailhead on nice trail.
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