Mailbox Peak, Teneriffe Falls, Mount Teneriffe & Mount Si — Saturday, Jun. 17, 2023

Decided with the forecast being cooler this weekend to do a variation of the North Bend Triple. Mailbox, Mt Teneriffe and Mt Si. 

I arrived at the Mailbox lower parking area at 5:55am with plenty of parking available, used the facilities(noted that TP was as fully stocked) and headed up the trail just after 6am. Took the old trail up, always enjoy this one as it’s a straight shot to the top, steep but saves about 2 miles vs taking the new trail. Many people report that they have difficulty finding the trail but there are white diamonds on trees, look for those and it will keep you more or less on the trail. Once I was out onto the boulder area it got pretty cold. Some Beargrass is popping up on the slopes below the summit. Around 50F but windy with some rain, just below the summit was muddy and slippy. Took 1:21 to reach the summit, stayed at the top for 1 minute to snap a pic of the mailbox and headed down. No views today! Took the new trail down in order to run the long gentle switchbacks. Back down with 2:27 elapsed - round trip. Now to drive to the Teneriffe park lot. 

Short drive to Teneriffe, ate a baby food pouch and a snack bar en route. Restrooms at the trailhead are closed, there are 2 Honey Buckets that are pretty worse for wear. Ran the trail to the Falls and headed right onto the Kamikaze Trail(look right just before the falls), this trail is super fun, 1.1 miles with 2300ft+ of elevation gain. Steep, rocky, rooty but again, beats the long climb on the main trail and is almost 3 miles shorter. Got to the summit in 1:26, hung out for a couple of minutes to take a gel and get some water. Ran the main trail down in 59 mins. Descending on the main trail is a favorite of mine, 6.4 miles with ever changing scenery and terrain, starting in the woods on narrow trails, some long rocky sections, dark forest for a couple of miles and then lush green ferns and foliage with running streams, back to the car in 2:25 elapsed time. 

A handful of chips and half a bottle of water down and then jogged the 1km down the road to the Mt Si trailhead. TP available in the restroom but no lock on the Mens toilet door, as I was solo today - I couldn’t take the chance : ) so headed up the trail. Very busy on Si as usual. Passed almost 100 people on the ascent. Power hiked up with only a few short sections of running, legs were starting to feel the burn at this point so just took it easy. The Mt Si trail is so well done, long switchbacks but really well maintained and no chance of getting lost here. I know most people have been on Si but if you haven’t and are thinking about it - be aware that it’s over 3 miles up long switchbacks with 800-900ft of gain per mile. Arrived at the lunch area in 1:13, climbed up some of the rocks and found a spot to have a sip of water and then headed down. Didn’t do Haystack due to rain earlier this morning and clouds. No rain while I was there but wet under foot and plenty of thick cloud cover, no wind though and not cold at all up here, it was actually colder in the foggy woods in the last mile before the summit. Ran down but stopped to give way to all hikers heading up the trail(easily over 100 people). Back to the parking lot in 43 mins. 1:56 round trip. Took a gentle jog back up the road to the car. 

All 3 trails were completely snow free but snow is possible around 4,500ft tomorrow(6/18), lots of happy people out today and had some nice conversations with people along the way. Very enjoyable day out. No wildlife of note. I obviously wasn’t trying to break any speed records but just wanted to enjoy some hours out on the trails. I am now interested in coming back later in the summer and doing the longest version of each ascent and descent to add more miles but any variation of these 3 mountains gives a feeling of accomplishment. 

Total stats - 

3 mountains, 

26.3 miles, 

6 hours 56 mins on trail. 

11,410ft of elevation gain. 

Happy Hiking!