Mailbox Peak - Old Trail — Saturday, Jul. 9, 2011

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area

Being another beautiful day in the great Pacific Northwest, my hiking friend and I took off to hike Mailbox Peak. For a first timer on this trail it was nice to have someone who has hiked it several times before. Taking advantage of the cool of the morning we started our climb at 8:10AM and about ½ mile past the trailhead, I quickly realized that the additional water weight I have traditionally taken was not going to be required and I dumped it. While the ‘stair-master’ like conditions of this hike are physically doable with some previous conditioning, getting your mind in order to manage the relentless ‘UP’ climbing is the hardest part. As noted in previous reports, the trail is in good condition – a bit soggy near the top due to snow melt. The entire trail is free of snow. The occasional breeze was nice as was hiking on the cool north side of the mountain. Breaking out of the dense canopy could not have come at a better time for me as my mind was struggling with the hike. The vista views, wind, alpine conditions and wild flowers gave me something other than the ridiculous slope to navigate. Reaching the top, slapping the mailbox, taking off my still too heavy pack and sitting down was a simple pleasure. A change into a dry shirt, a PB&J (always taste better outside!) a quart of Crystal Light, a 360-degree set of photos and several chats with other hikers made for an enjoyable 30 minute break. The trip down is tedious due to the extreme steepness and loose rock. I further compounded this by taking a ton of pictures of the wild flowers coming into bloom: bear grass, phlox, Indian paint brush, sky lupine, and other unidentifiables. Despite the physical and mental challenges of the Mailbox, I would rather be hiking it then working on my bathroom tile and plumbing which decided to go South on my Sunday morning. Good thing I was not sore from the Saturday hike….HA!!! 360-degree view: http://photosynth.net/edit.aspx?cid=fc567bf9-e746-4b01-b16b-b977fc88dfc7&wa=wsignin1.0 Happy Trails to all!!!