But what Mailbox really needs is a harder route. What if we took all the good things about the old trail away? So no trail, no landmarks, no switchbacks. Now let's knock down every third tree and lay them across the route like pick-up sticks. Good... good. Now... the weather.

Mailbox is always the most fun when it's pouring rain at the bottom and blowing ice sideways at the top. So let's add that. And the extra weight of gear needed when we get to the snow.

So now that we're all set for an epic adventure, let's go.

The first bit was easy on a new trail that was surprisingly similar to the new Mailbox trail. It seems they've found a designer they like. After that, though, it was not so easy. Blowdown was everywhere. We tried to avoid it, but it was futile. And about a third of the trees still standing were so rotten if you leaned against them they'd fall over.

We made it just above a massive tangle of downed trees before we called it quits and hid in a hollow henceforth known as "Eric's Hole." The rain kept dumping and the wind kept blowing. It was miserable.

Just what Mailbox needs. A more miserable route.

The other thing that makes Mailbox a special kind of terrible is the addiction that draws us back. Hate it all you want you'll come back.

So hurray. A new route up Mailbox. Or it will be. When we get back up there. And it will suck.