Why is there a mountain with a mailbox at the top?

A year and a half ago, when we first moved here, I remember scrolling past a hike that had a mailbox fixated on the summit’s peak. At that time this hike was not making the list of weekend hiking plans due to the 4,000 ft of elevation gain. This Sunday was different. This was training montage time!

Unfortunately, Devin was feeling unwell so she was unable to make it. It was up to Snesha and myself to train so we could beat the Russian boxer – wait… that’s a different montage.

When we hiked the Pratt River Trail we passed the parking lot for Mailbox Peak and it was overflowing with cars. This is a very popular hike! If you are going to do this hike I recommend you get there early. While there are two parking areas available, one of them opens at 7 AM so there is a trick to getting the timing right if you are too late for the first but early for the second. A Discover Pass is required for parking. We got there at 6 AM and had no trouble with parking.

The reason there’s a mailbox at the top was to serve as an attendance marker for a Lutheran camp. The youth would sign a book in the mailbox as proof they had completed the trip. Our trek started by hiking right into a thick forest on a wide trail that looks very well traveled. In most places its wide enough for two people across. For most of the initial 4 miles the trail has a nice moderate incline and minimal roots or rocks to trip over. Nothing too difficult, but it makes you wonder where that elevation gain is going to come from.

I take photos very fast (This is not a brag, many are crap). I pull my phone out of my pocket, open the camera app, and snap the photo. I do not reposition myself, try to find a better angle, adjust from landscape to portrait, and rarely do I take multiple shots. Early on in the hike I let Snesha know that Devin was really into tree stumps with plants growing out of them. When she saw one she would point it out to me and then thought there might be time for a small break (I’m guessing this was due to Devin’s photography methods). When Snesha pointed out the first stump I took the picture before she turned around and she seemed confused and mildly disappointed that I took the picture so fast. We would need another reason for taking breaks. These are the results of our fast stump breaks:

Other than one or two breaks in the trees the trail remains fairly consistent until you reach the rock field. In addition to the mailbox at the top this is what you will often see on trail report sites so you might infer that once you pass the rock field you will be at the top. You’d be wrong.

The rock field path is identified by the change in coloration on the rocks due to the number of people that visit this trail. This part is a bit steeper than the previous trail but still not too bad. Some of the rocks have a bit of a wobble so watch your step and hiking poles might be advisable.

Now that you’re four and a half miles in and you’ve passed the rock field you realize this is not the top. Around the corner is a fun stretch that goes straight up. This is less than ideal for your legs which have grown accustomed to the gradual incline and are considering staging a coup to regain control of this situation. I tend not to take too many photos of trail sections like this because I am focused on not swearing up a storm as people pass me.

Once at the top we were rewarded with incredible views and of course a trip to the mailbox. It is tradition to bring a token to deposit in the mailbox. I forgot this tidbit and had nothing to offer the mailbox gods. Snesha deposited some Pirate’s Booty chips and snagged some airheads as a snack for the way down.

The WTA page for this hike lists it as 9.4 miles but I think it is closer to 11.5 – 12 miles. There is an old trail closer to the top so maybe that makes it shorter but we did the new trail. We breezed the hike back down and I don’t think many people asked me my least favorite question – “How much further?” You’ll get there when you get there. Snesha talked up Banh Mi (a Vietnamese sandwich) but once I got to my car I lost the desire to impose my sweaty self on the general public and headed straight home to shower and rest on the couch. Another time.