 |
|
It'll take you by surprise
Reviewed By: Corrine on Sunday, August 15, 2010 @ 10:52:54 PM
Rating: 



Difficulty: 




Review:
Wow! What a hike. I went with a few friends that had done it before, so I was warned, but nothing will prepare you for how steep it actually is. You think it's bad and then it gets worse about half mile in. It was a hot day and I went through two CamelBaks so be sure to bring lots of water if it's going to be warm. Trekking poles are a MUST in my opinion, but there are always good hiking sticks that hikers leave around to use also.
On a clear day in the summer, you'll have no trouble finding the trail, but just no there is no actual "trail" that you have to follow. We blazed our own for a while. There are 2 false summits, and it doesn't really help your motivation, but once you break out of the monotonous trees, you'll be rewarded with gorgeous views of Rainier (that's when you know you're almost there!... sort of) and the surrounding areas. We were able to see all the way to Seattle and Mts Stuart and Baker. It was gorgeous. Definitely worth it.
Watch out coming down though. I'm no experienced hiker but I've done my fair share of treks and this was by far the worst trip down. I was scrambling the whole way. The best way is to skip/hop down and use trees to stop your momentum. That is, unless you really enjoy having your knees and thighs ache and tremble at the bottom. Rinse off in the stream at the bottom too, it's very clean and very refreshing after a long, hot hike! Bring food too, you'll need it!
Challenging
Reviewed By: Anonymous on Friday, July 23, 2010 @ 04:47:28 PM
Rating: 



Difficulty: 




Review:
We did Mailbox Peak after work yesterday. Our group was able to meet up at the parking lot by 5 and then we headed up. This was certainly the steepest trail that I have done. With exception to the first 1/4 mile or so, the hike feels like doing the stairmaster at the gym for 2 hours. Constant climbing. As others have said, the wooded area, which you are in for most of the trail, provides little to look at. I'm sure the views at the top would have been amazing, but the cloud cover we ended in was too think to see much more then a couple hundred feet below. I will say though , the wild flowers along the last push on the top of the trail were gorgeous! The mailbox at the top was fun. I was definately glad we brought our doen jacket for the top though..Brr! The decent, was long and steady, and probably the most challenging part...I highly reccommend bring along trekking poles.
2-3ft new snow
Reviewed By: Abe and Puckett on Thursday, April 1, 2010 @ 10:40:36 PM
Rating: 


Difficulty: 



Review:
My 18lb terrier and I did this hike early today. Though the incline is a nice workout even for an experienced hiker, I have to admit the trail was a bit boring as peaks go. The first 3700ft or so are in totally enclosed forest without many views. Once you break out it is beautiful with snowfilled views of the Snoqualmie Pass region. This week brough 2-3ft of snow in the area and the trail was snowy 75% of the way.
At the false summit the trail ended. Feet sunk in up to the waist with every step and you risked injury slipping on the boulder field below the snow level.
Good hike for exercise, boring hike most of the way. If going in snow season try not to go after a storm so you won't have to plow your own trail. And pick a CLEAR DAY!
A test before the Enchantments
Reviewed By: Dutch on Monday, July 13, 2009 @ 12:13:58 AM
Rating: 



Difficulty: 




Review:
Great views up top, well worth sticking it out. Just set a slow steady pace and it's not that bad. If you've hiked the cable line trail on Tiger Mt., just double the distance and you'll have an idea of what you're in for.
I'm hiking the Enchantments via Colchuck then up and over Aasgard so what better way to test the lungs and leg strength than on Mailbox!?
A lot of people I talk to about Mailbox say they only want to hike it once. Now that I've hiked it I don't know why. It's really not that bad... and I'm a 40-year old slightly overweight tech guy. My hiking partner was in a hurry the day we went up so I didn't get a chance to enjoy the peak, so I'll definitely go back up before the snow hits in the fall. Sure, my legs hurt for a couple of days after this one but, again, for a middle-aged dude that's acceptable.
So, get a good night's sleep, have a healthy breakfast, stretch, put your game face on and hit it. Great views await you.
Sweet hike, stop yo whinin haha
Reviewed By: Vermont Rocks on Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 01:38:34 PM
Rating: 




Difficulty: 


Review:
Mailbox peak was tough, but my recommendation is just stick with the trail. That rock pile mentioned above is just that... a rock pile, not the trail. Enjoy the hike, yeah it might take some time and gain some elevation, but come prepared, take breaks and enjoy it. The success is in the trying. Peace.
Tough and beautiful.
Reviewed By: Josh H. on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 @ 10:32:17 PM
Rating: 




Difficulty: 




Review:
This is a tough, but rewarding hike, at least if it is done on a clear day. I would imagine that without the views it would be rather thankless. Bring treking sticks. No joke. I don't usually use them, but they were nice here.
Quick walk to the trail head. First few hundred yards easy, past a nice stream. Then its up and up and up. Up is tough, but the trail is very poor quality, so you can't really move that fast. Be careful. I'm a reasonably nibble person in good shape, but I found the decent a bit treacherous, especially the short section in the woods next to the rock slide. Your legs are cold from hanging out on the summit. Lots of slippery roots and rocks hidden in a cake of mud, all at some steep angles. You can be a bit more gung ho in the bottom section.
When the trail opens up at the base of the rock slide, there is a trail to the left that follows its edge, perhaps 50 ft in to the woods. It can be difficult to see, and there were still minor snow fields in some places on July 8th. I ended up going about half way up the rock slide before reconnecting with the trail. The top section to the summit was very beautiful. High mountain prairie, flowers, and amazing views. Like I said, go on a clear day. If you don't this is going to be good for training, and thats about it.
Very hard, pleasing hike. The effort yields a nice reward.
Good early season conditioner
Reviewed By: Jennifer on Sunday, June 22, 2008 @ 09:39:26 PM
Rating: 


Difficulty: 




Review:
This year (2008) it seems mid-June is "early season." In any event, I attempted this with a friend this weekend. We found the part through the woods easier than expected. It is steep, no doubt, but doable. If you can hike Granite Mountain or Mt. Dickerson, you'll have no problem with the forested / ridgeline section of Mailbox Peak. I wouldn't describe it as hazardous and it was very easy to follow the trail, partially because of the reflective trail markings nailed to trees.
We stopped at the large rock pile, near the top. Many people were climbing it, but my legs were shot and the rocks were wet (and slippery) and the snow looked hazardous. Hopefully I'll come back and climb it another day. Because of the last section - the rock pile - I give this hike the most strenuous rating. It was cloudy the day we hiked it, so there were views to speak.
There is still snow covering the majority of hikes, and this one was clear of snow up until the rock pile. It's a good early season hike. In addition, there are no leash laws, so it's a fantastic hike for dogs. There isn't any water after the beginning, so you'll need to bring some for the pooch.
Write a Hike Review of MailBox Peak, Mt. Baker National Forest-Snoqualmie