The Two Box Traverse

The classic high traverse from Mailbox Peak to Hibox Peak.

  • Date:
    2016/08/18 to 2016/08/22
    Car-to-car:
    5 days
    Round-trip distance:
    48 miles
    Elevation gain:
    25,000 feet
    Trip type:
    scramble
    USGS quads:
    Snoqualmie Pass, Chester Morse Lake, Chikamin Peak, Bandera
    In:
    Middle Fork Snoqualmie Drainage, South Fork Snoqualmie Drainage, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
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  • Day 1

  • The road to the Mailbox Peak Trail Head was closed, so we started at the Fire Training Center gate and bushwacked around the Fire Training Center.
    The road to the Mailbox Peak Trail Head was closed, so we started at the Fire Training Center gate and bushwacked around the Fire Training Center.
  • We bushwacked around the Fire Training Center
    We bushwacked around the Fire Training Center
  • The connector trail between the Fire Training Center and the Mailbox Peak Trail was marked with segments of old fire hoses.
    The connector trail between the Fire Training Center and the Mailbox Peak Trail was marked with segments of old fire hoses.
  • The summit of Mailbox Peak.
    The summit of Mailbox Peak.
  • The two box traverse is truly on now that we're on the summit of Mailbox!
    The two box traverse is truly on now that we're on the summit of Mailbox!
  • Geocache on the summit of Dirtybox Peak.
    Geocache on the summit of Dirtybox Peak.
  • Brush! The traverse between Dirtybox Pk and Dirty Harry's Peak was easily the most rugged and brushy part of the trip.
    Brush! The traverse between Dirtybox Pk and Dirty Harry's Peak was easily the most rugged and brushy part of the trip.
  • What?!  Someone pruned a path (difficult to follow) between Mailbox and Dirty Harrys Pk.
    What?! Someone pruned a path (difficult to follow) between Mailbox and Dirty Harrys Pk.
  • Scramble!
    Scramble!
  • We found a fixed line on the NW ridge of Dirty Harrys Peak shortly before the summit.
    We found a fixed line on the NW ridge of Dirty Harrys Peak shortly before the summit.
  • Steep duff, moss, and roots above the fixed line.
    Steep duff, moss, and roots above the fixed line.
  • On the summit of Dirty Harrys Peak.
    On the summit of Dirty Harrys Peak.
  • The mad trail numen's pruning continued until shortly before Coincidence Point.
    The mad trail numen's pruning continued until shortly before Coincidence Point.
  • Lower Granite Lake
    Lower Granite Lake
  • Web Mountain from Coincidence Point
    Web Mountain from Coincidence Point
  • We were so happy this pond below Web Mtn was not dry, it was our only water source for the whole day.
    We were so happy this pond below Web Mtn was not dry, it was our only water source for the whole day.
  • Spider Lake
    Spider Lake
  • Ian on the summit of Web Mountain.  Mount Defiance in the background.
    Ian on the summit of Web Mountain. Mount Defiance in the background.
  • The summit of Putrid Pete's Peak.
    The summit of Putrid Pete's Peak.
  • Mount Defiance
    Mount Defiance
  • We bivvied on the west ridge of Mount Defiance.
    We bivvied on the west ridge of Mount Defiance.
  • Day 2

  • Lint Lake?  Kaleetan, Chair, Bryant, and company in the background.
    Lint Lake? Kaleetan, Chair, Bryant, and company in the background.
  • Granite Mountain from near the summit of West Granite Mountain.
    Granite Mountain from near the summit of West Granite Mountain.
  • West Granite Mountain
    West Granite Mountain
  • Kaleetan, Chair Peak, and Bryant Peak from just below the summit of Granite Mountain.
    Kaleetan, Chair Peak, and Bryant Peak from just below the summit of Granite Mountain.
  • Low Mountain from Granite Mountain's NE ridge.
    Low Mountain from Granite Mountain's NE ridge.
  • Low Mtn's SW ridge
    Low Mtn's SW ridge
  • Chair Peak from the summit of Low Mountain
    Chair Peak from the summit of Low Mountain
  • Chair Peak from Low Mtn's north ridge.
    Chair Peak from Low Mtn's north ridge.
  • Chair Peak over Melakwa Lake
    Chair Peak over Melakwa Lake
  • Day 3

  • This gully provided excellent access to the 3,800' ledge above Hemlock Pass.
    This gully provided excellent access to the 3,800' ledge above Hemlock Pass.
  • South face of The Tooth
    South face of The Tooth
  • Below the south face of The Tooth
    Below the south face of The Tooth
  • The notch near Pineapple Pass that leads into the Source Lake basin.
    The notch near Pineapple Pass that leads into the Source Lake basin.
  • An insectivorous plant, Butterwort, above Source Lake.
    An insectivorous plant, Butterwort, above Source Lake.
  • Chair Peak from the Snow Lake basin.
    Chair Peak from the Snow Lake basin.
  • Snow Lake and Roosevelt Mountain.
    Snow Lake and Roosevelt Mountain.
  • We found a faint, steep path that took us between cliffs and up onto the Snow Lake divide.
    We found a faint, steep path that took us between cliffs and up onto the Snow Lake divide.
  • Meadow at 4,800', west of Snoqualmie Mtn.
    Meadow at 4,800', west of Snoqualmie Mtn.
  • The NW face of Snoqualmie Mountain
    The NW face of Snoqualmie Mountain
  • The east summit of Snoqualmie Mountain
    The east summit of Snoqualmie Mountain
  • Ian on the summit of Snoqualmie Mountain.
    Ian on the summit of Snoqualmie Mountain.
  • Guye Peak and Snoqualmie Pass.
    Guye Peak and Snoqualmie Pass.
  • Yum!
    Yum!
  • Bivvy in Commonwealth Basin.
    Bivvy in Commonwealth Basin.
  • Day 4

  • Kendall Katwalk.  And bouldering.
    Kendall Katwalk. And bouldering.
  • Mount Thomson
    Mount Thomson
  • NE side of Huckleberry Mountain
    NE side of Huckleberry Mountain
  • Huckleberry Mountain and Mount Thomson
    Huckleberry Mountain and Mount Thomson
  • Our next destination in the distance, the NW high point of Box Ridge.
    Our next destination in the distance, the NW high point of Box Ridge.
  • Three Queens
    Three Queens
  • Chickamin Peak
    Chickamin Peak
  • On top of Box Ridge point 6,080.
    On top of Box Ridge point 6,080.
  • Box Ridge
    Box Ridge
  • Box Ridge
    Box Ridge
  • Day 5

  • Hibox Peak
    Hibox Peak
  • We found an unexpectedly perfect ledge through the cliffs.
    We found an unexpectedly perfect ledge through the cliffs.
  • On the summit of Hibox Peak.  The two boxes have been traversed!
    On the summit of Hibox Peak. The two boxes have been traversed!

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