My first trip up Mailbox along with my dog Smokey. About Bill's excellent description in Trail Reviews, I'd like to say that the gate is white except for the rusty brownish-yellow parts and the parking lot is just before you leave the pavement. The hiking trail now begins just past a clearcut instead of forest. Trail is in good shape except someone stole the switchbacks. It was tough.

Headed out planning to hike the Old Si trail, however I saw Mailbox beckoning in the background. Got to the parking area at 10:15, grabbed the last parking spot in the small parking area off the road. This was my first trip to Mailbox since the logging started, looks like the butchers are done. The trail is in good shape, just two small snow patches to cross (if you decide to bypass the scramble across the boulder field). The trail is excellent after you leave the forest, looks like the snow has only recently melted as the ferns have not begun to take over. The last part of the hike up the meadow is still pretty drab, but the wildflowers should be taking over fairly quickly. Saw one Indian Paintbrush and a couple of trillium towards the top. There was a slight breeze on the top with views of Si, Teneriffe and of course Rainier. Got to the summit in one hour, 45 minutes. Great hike!!

Great day for a hike. Great day to hike Mailbox Peak too. Appearantly, the masses agreed, as the parking lot was almost full when we arrived. One group was in such a hurry, they left their brand new SUV unlocked with the drivers door wide open. We checked to make sure they had their keys, then closed the door for them. Nice steep trail.... Steeper than I remember... Things got kind of muddy near the summit, but overall the trail is in good shape. The trail is snow free, with some very small patches before the boulder field. Views were A+

Trail is finally snow free all the way to the top. The pitch is just as steep, however. Bring lots of water, there isn't any shortly after exiting the road.

As you might expect for this time of the year, Mailbox peak trail was very muddy. The tree roots on the upper half of the trail were very slippery, and surrounded with lots-o-mud. The snow has melted for the most part on the lower sections of the trail. There is still quite a bit of snow just above the tree line next to the big rock pile.