People here like to complain about dog poop. Let’s talk about the human poop.

please stop pooping on the trail. 

please stop pooping right next to the trail.

Please bury your poop.

please don’t poop near a water source 

I’ve been seeing this way too often lately. Starting to feel like every other hike I do.

Are any hikers missing this dog?

We encountered him running along the shoulder of eastbound I-90 at 9:30am this morning between exits 38 & 42. Appears to be a doberman/herding breed mix. Me and a few others tried to coax him with some treats, but he ultimately crossed the median and went into the woods north of the westbound lanes. He was then spotted at 5:30pm this evening coming down the Mailbox Peak trail and was last seen near MP 4 on the Middle Fork road. WSP and members of a lost dogs group told me volunteers have been trying to catch him for a few days. Please keep an eye out if you're in the area anytime soon. Thanks!

First off... If you head to the summit and find my baby blue Mountain Hardware beanie with a elastic neck leash, near the summit, please do let me know! 2064912574.

Hiked to the balcony. Trail was in great shape with just a couple muddy spots and a trace of snow at the main trail intersection at the top. Very windy today! On the way up to the Museum there was sparse traces of compact snow and ice. Zero wind at this spot. From the logging truck, for the first time, I continued up the "road" along the creek through brush, shallow snow and fallen trees. It was actually very easy going and it connected up to the main trail without backtracking or losing elevation. You also bypass crossing the creek over the trail even though it's super-easy to step on stones and stay completely dry, as I took that path down. I did not bring poles, gaiters or spikes and just had trail runners. Poles would be recommended since the footing was precariously stepping in previously frozen footsteps, occasionally 6" or more deep. Outside of the footsteps the crust sometimes supported weight but post holing sucks so I just hiked in the steps. Snow depths ranged from just a few inches to maybe just over a foot near the summit in open areas. I went all the way to the West summit where there was a blue sky and beautiful view of Seattle and the Olympics. Going down I stayed in the holes where it was frozen but then when it got softer it was nicer just to plunge step and jog down in the shallow fresh snow. Hardly any wind all the way up to the summit. Photos and GPS in the Strava link.

About .7 miles past the balcony a stream overtakes the trail. Crossing is possible but you will get very wet. Couldn’t find a route around so turned back.

Started in the dark to sneak the peak in before the storm hit. The trail was snow free until just before the balcony. After that it got progressively deeper. I followed a single set of fresh tracks until 3800 where they turned around.

From 3800 to about 4300 the snow was no more than ankle deep, but where the road becomes a trail it got up to my knees. From 4400 to the summit it was thigh deep. The snow had a styrofoam crust with heavier snow below.

Virtually no views from the summit due to clouds and trees. Plenty of wind though.

Heading down the wind knocked snow and ice off the trees before it started snowing properly. The snow extended down to about 2400 where it turned to rain.

It’s been YEARS since I’d been up to the peak. With the new trail to the balcony and snow covering the upper trail it hardly resembles the slog I remembered. It’s still not a highlight, but it’s worth a visit.