When it rains, hiking the Effing Cable Line resembles scampering up a muddy Splash Mountain ride backwards, and my quadriceps usually ache the next day. I aim for just under an hour, but the fastest known time is 22 minutes and 22 seconds, less than the length of a Friends episode, and as a treat for my knees I often switch to the West Tiger 3 trail on the way down for a gentle, lengthy descent. Only the dogs ever seem to be having pure fun, leaping from either side of the cable trough dug into the mud.Ĭable Line is the only trail I might do twice in one week, the only one where I time myself from the start at the High Point Trailhead. Trail runners in sleek sneakers and aerodynamic hydration packs lap it twice or more in a row, while Rainier-bound mountaineers trudge up with big packs and heavy boots, trying to break in gear before an upcoming trip. Suddenly every hiker and climber in the Seattle area remembers that they need to get in shape for big summer goals, and this trail's punishing ascent is basically a Stairmaster that smells like the forest. Though busy year-round, Cable Line blossoms with activity in the spring. There is a lot with room for about 40 cars.Image: Courtesy Laura Tiefenbruck and Seattle Met Staff There is a turnoff on the right just after the merge with SE Dorothy Lake Road. The trailhead for the Mailbox Peak Trail is off Middle Fork Road. Getting to the Mailbox Peak Trail Trailhead Check current gate times at the trailhead so you don’t get locked out! The gates to this hike typically open an hour after dawn and an hour before dusk.Try to stay off the old trail, even if it seems tempting given the crowds this hike sometimes sees.Get here early! The trail can also feel congested so we definitely recommend hiking on a weekday if you are able to. Parking for this trail fills up quickly on the weekends.We don’t recommend it, as it’s in much worse condition than the new trail and was notorious for injuries during its use. The best times to visit this trail are April through October. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 7 h 10 min to complete. Yes, the old trail still exists and you can still hike it. Experience this 16.6-km out-and-back trail near North Bend, Washington. Please have your Discover Pass ready to go for this hike. What pass do I need to hike Mailbox Peak? He had built a mailbox at the top and challenged the kids of the retreat to climb the summit and reach the mailbox. Frequently Asked Questions Why is there a mailbox at Mailbox Peak?īack in the '60s, a postman named Carl Heine was working as the director of Valley Camp, a retreat near the base of the mountain. This 14,409-foot stratovolcano is an iconic sight and the highlight of your sightline. The tallest mountain in the state is a dominant part of your view on the Mailbox Peak Trail. Mount Rainier is right there, and the Middle Fork valley lines the ground ahead in green.Ĭheck the mailbox, sign the register, maybe leave a trinket, and then retrace your steps back to the parking area, taking care on the steep initial descent. You’ll crest the peak, which sits at the end of a ridgeline. From now until the summit, you’ll gain closer to 960 feet of elevation in half a mile. This stretch is rockier, so watch your step. The switchbacks go on for about 4 miles, at which point you rejoin the old trail for the summit ascent. You’ll be gaining about 850 feet of elevation per mile, and it doesn’t relent until the peak. You’ll cross bridges and creeks, and then the switchbacks really set in. A hundred yards past the gate, you’ll see the entrance to the new trail. You’ll walk for a bit along a paved path, skirting around a gate. Still, be ready for a bigger ascent and lots of fellow hikers on this popular route. This trail is difficult, but a monumental effort vastly improved the conditions after the old dangerous trail was ditched in favor of a much safer new trail. The Mailbox Peak Trail leads you to a viewpoint adorned with a sticker-clad mailbox where hikers from all over leave goodies for the next groups up. What’s in the mailbox? Besides the trail register, sometimes it’s toys, sometimes it’s beer, sometimes it’s just some ants looking for shelter.
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