I tried to hike up to Mailbox peak today. This trail is not for anyone even slightly out of shape, it's brutal and unforgiving, especially in the rain and snow. It started out easy enough just muddy until you get to the blow down by the side of the trail with the hand pegs in it. These pegs are necessary because this is the start of the real trail, it goes straight up. Rarely bothering to switchback I found myself exauhsted after mabye a half mile. Any sane person will stop at the tree with the pegs in it and call it a day; being content to go back to North Bend and have some coffee. By about a mile or so (the trails supposedly only two) you will wish you were back home nice and cozy, not sweating and not wet. If you're as stupid as me you will continue on through the snow and ice on the barely visible trail and go up and up and up. We kind of made it to the summit but as soon as we got there we headed back down because it was freezing. Our sweashirts and rain jackets didn't help at all. Going back down is almost as painful as going up with all the snow ice and mud on the trail but I finally made it back down in one piece. I won't put directions in this report in hopes that no one will ever try to find it.

Well, I hadn't been hiking in a couple of months, but a free day at work and the warm weather conspired to leave me no choice but to head up to the mountains. I thought Mailbox was a good choice since I've heard of it being done in the winter plus it's close to Seattle and I had a late start. Temperature probably in the mid 50s at the trailhead so I just wore my t-shirt and shorts which was a good choice. The trail is one of the steepest I've done in this area and definitely keeps one warm. It's one of those rare trails steep enough to be quite a workout in both directions. The trail was in great condition through the forest, dry and entirely without snow. As soon as I broke out of the trees there was snow on the ground and also a very fierce wind, particularly near the top. Thinking this was January (even though it's really February), I had brought ice axe and snowshoes along. I never touched the snowshoes, but the ice axe came in handy near the top though it definitely wasn't essential. The views were nice with Baker and the Olympics easily visible, along with the lower slopes of Rainier. I only saw two people on the trail and the round trip took about 4 hours. Hopefully it didn't wear me out for my soccer game tomorrow! Michael [Online Editor Note: Did you run into Pilar on the trail']

The Alpine Lakes - Getting there: Drive to Mason Lk. trailhead, and when you're finished drive up the Middle Fork Road to the Mailbox Peak trailhead. The trip: Begin the day slogging up the ridge to Bandera. I ran into a very nice group of five enroute to the top and we had a nice chit chat on the way up. Eventually we said our goodbyes and it was off to the summit ridge. Snowshoes weren't necessary this gorgeous beautiful Saturday morning. It was cold enough up high to keep the snow firm (much softer below 3,500 ft.). After traversing the ridge to the east (hard wind packed snow on the ridge), I made my way to the apparent high point on the ridge commonly known as ""Bandera Mtn."". There seems to be a question as to whether the first high point you come to is the actual summit, so just to be sure I went to the next one. On the way back I ran into another nice nice couple who also thought that the first high point was the summit, they thanked me for kicking steps up to the ridge and then it was the quick descent to the bottom. This portion of the trip took four hours, it was only two-thirty and it was such a beautiful day..... so I gulped down a couple of ""Brisks"" and jetted on over to the Mailbox Peak trailhead. There were two cars parked at the trailhead so I knew if there was any snow on the route than steps would be pre-kicked for me. The ascent to the top was quite pleasant, though quite windy at the summit. There is really almost no snow on the route unless you stay off the main ridge to the north which still has a good deal of snow. The only real snow does in fact cover the ""Mailbox"" at the top so I couldn't read ""Green Eggs and Ham"" at the summit (really (quite disappointing). This leg of the trip took two and a half hours, not bad for a tired ""kitty"". Well take care and see ya on the trail. Everyone's favorite Siamese, Pilar! [Online Editor Note: Did you run into Michael on the trail']

After reading the history of the Green Eggs and Ham book, how could one not want to see it' Venturing up Mailbox Mt. after a two month hiking break was not the most sane idea, but fit nicely into the ""hiking to get into shape"" camp. We had some difficulty finding the trailhead, this being our first time up. Do not head in at the first or second culvert- it is at the third, and is still marked by the toothbrush! If you get lost in the woods, head for the stream. Ahhh, the forest was overflowing with mushrooms, the sun was shining, the trail was steep, and the out-of-shape going was slow. The wind followed us up the last ascent. Reading the book was the day’s goal, but the wind nearly blew my glasses off, nearly blew my hat away, and nearly numbed my fingers to much to flip pages. Great fun for November! Temperature dropped 10 degrees in half hour on way down. Gravity is difficult to disobey on return- there could be a ""Mailbox wipeout sliding"" contest! How did Pilar make it down in an hour' At 1hr 20 min we were nearly careening over the infrequent switchbacks. Only one person on way up, one on way down. ps...park on the left side! Testy property owners were asking us if the cars parked in front of the trail belonged to anyone on the trail. pss...finding out about this hike from site has won me over- I’m signing up with WTA!
[Online Editor's note: Didn't Pilar say he climed it in 1 and 1/2 hours' It takes me about 2 and 1/2 hours on a good day. So do you think its time for a new book' I'm thinking of replacing it next spring.]

According to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) some timber will be harvested in the next few years along the lower slopes of Mailbox Peak. However, the trail in this area runs along a stream riparian zone that will be excluded from the harvest area. The result of this will be to protect fish habitat and also preserve the trail in it's present location.