North Ridge of Mailbox Peak

Carla, Laurie, and I parked at the Mailbox Peak trailhead and walked a short distance up the Middle Fork Road to the Granite Creek Road-Trail. After 2.4 miles on the Granite Creek Road-Trail we started ascending the north ridge of Mailbox Peak where the road curves to the right around the ridge. Most of the lower part of the ridge was a mess of blowdowns. Around 4,200' the ridge became choked with young trees and huckleberry bushes, we had to fight the forest for the next 500 vertical feet. Finally the ridge cleared off for a short section of nice scrambling to the summit of Mailbox Peak.

We descended via the trail.

Comments

It was the middle of the winter and there was no snow for the whole trip (except for a few small patches on the NE side). We were wearing shorts and even had to swat at mosquitoes at times. So strange.

References

• Mountaineers Message Board trip report: Mailbox Peak via north ridge

Driving Directions

Take exit 34 off of I-90. Go north on 468th Ave for about 0.4 miles. Go right onto SE Middle Fork Road. (At the intersection with Lake Dorothy Road I always take Lake Dorothy Road since it seems wider, Lake Dorothy Road joins with the Middle Fork Road before the Mailbox Peak trailhead.)

The Mailbox Peak trailhead is 2.5 miles from the intersection of the Middle Fork Road and 468th Ave SE, immediately before the Middle Fork Road turns into gravel. (3 miles from exit 34.) Parking is on both sides of the road.

Maps

• Greentrails map: Mount Si NRCA (#206S)

Travel Times

• 1 hour 5 minutes ascending from Mailbox Peak trailhead to intersection of Granite Creek Road-Trail and north ridge
• 3 hours 28 minutes ascending from intersection of Granite Creek Road-Trail and north ridge to summit of Mailbox Peak
• 1 hour 44 minutes descending from summit of Mailbox Peak to Mailbox Peak trailhead

North Ridge of Mailbox Peak at 4,700'