Mailbox Peak Weekday Hike

the spot where the old trail once popped out of the trees and onto the ridge. Whether you’ve come up the new trail or the old, Mailbox is ready to deliver its final punishment before surrendering the summit: a quarter mile of travel that gains 500 more feet, a tall task for legs already softened up by more than a Mount Si’s worth of elevation gain.

Mailbox may not be known for its scenery, but the terrain is not without its rewards. From the talus slope all the way to the top is proper wilderness, skirting a forest of old gnarled trees that have survived the harsh winds of many a winter. On a nice day, the views from the summit are as good as any along I-90. Mailbox stands at the prow of a long ridge, giving it greater prominence – ubiquitous Mount Rainier seems even closer than it does from Bandera or Granite. In early summer, the final half mile is covered in beargrass, lupine, and paintbrush, as well as several other varieties of wildflowers. In winter, every tree, rock and blade of grass along the summit ridge will often be spectacularly rimed with windblown snow and ice.

The greatest reward is the joy of the effort itself, of digging deep within yourself to summon the strength to conquer the mighty Mailbox and inscribe your name in the summit register contained – appropriately enough – in a mailbox installed at the top https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mailbox-peak-old-trail