Long time readers will recall that Mailbox Peak once featured prominently in my weekends. Almost every Sunday morning you could expect to see me trudging up the obscenely steep trail. But I stopped the Mailbox tradition before Henry and Tink were ready to join me.
But now, they're more capable hikers than I am. I figured it was only appropriate to get them to the top so they could experience the joy, the unbridled joy of opening the mailbox. And of course, I chose a day that would ensure they got all the joy Mailbox could deliver.
Cold. Wet. Windy. Perfect.
We started in the dark, of course. We took the old trail up, of course. I regaled Henry with some of the stories from my glory days. Behold, the 1,000 foot sign! Behold, Hydration Rock! Behold, the Vertical Halfway Log! So many old friends. We paused for a moment of silence where Richard Root once lived. I may have forgotten to tell Henry there was a false summit, but that's all part of the game.
At the summit, they were underwhelmed. Not surprising. It's not the best view and especially not when the clouds are thick around us. It was blowing enough that we didn't linger.
We descended the new trail to complete the experience. It's a LONG switchbacky way down, but now Henry knows not to go that way.
Will we do it again? Not any time soon. There's just no reason when there are other places and now that we've all been up there.
📍On the lands of the Snoqualmie people.
