"Daria Kashcha of PNW Peakbaggers has read a few #HikingWithHadland trip reports and wanted to experience a great hike, but avoid one of my famous Alpine Finishes, so she suggested an Alpine Start. Apparently, she read about my failed attempt at the Mailbox Peak to Dirty Harry’s Peak back in April and was intrigued about the ability to summit multiple mountains, without having to climb them all from a low elevation – hence the intrigue of the traverse at its intended vertical to summit efficiency. I was open to this and agreed to meet an O Dark 5:30 at the trailhead – waking at 3:30AM, wolfing down my precious marionberry pie and coffee earlier than usual, and delaying the 10-100 call. Now realize that I have never met Daria, and have only connected with her online in our PNW Peakbagging Group as a result of many exchanges on mutual objectives, folks we know, etc.- so as a new hiking and climbing partner, there is mutual risk about embarking on an outing with little prior first-hand experience. Choosing a partner for hiking, and much more so for climbing is really an important decision, especially as you may need to rely upon your partner’s skills, mental efficacy, climbing, firs..." — markhadland • May 22, 2021

"Northbend Trifecta - This is a local challenge few have accomplished – A series of three peak summits I have only read about and given my recent push to climb more and summit more and push harder, I thought after a week of summits – Mount St. Helens, Mailbox Peak 2X, Dirty Box, Teneriffe Kamikaze Route I was ready for this undertaking. It was also an opportunity to put myself in the finishers’ spot with the PNW Peakbaggers Facebook Group’s challenge to visually summit Mount Everest by gaining the total altitude beginning April 15th. Here goes! I completed the North Bend Trifecta today!: Mailbox Peak Old Trail, Mount Teneriffe Kamikaze Route, Mount Si Old Trail – up and down each one. 11,609 feet gain, 19+ miles, 17+hours. MPB was a breeze and I ran into our own PNW Peak Bagger group founder and leader – Bill Goodgion descending the summit! Kamikaze was slow with all the precipitation making the rocks and roots on the ridge and steep approach super slick, and 6″ of new powder on the final 500′ make it slippery and slow. Did Si in the pitch dark – first time on the Old Trail. I was the only human on the mountain tonight, but not alone – my axe was in my hand the entire time! The w..." — markhadland • Apr 24, 2021

"Took a sunset hike up the old trail – left just prior to 5. Snow above 3600 feet. Microspikes and poles recommended. The glissade paths are melting and rocks are becoming explode. In addition, there are increasingly more rock wells and the edge of the snowfields are melting underneath leading to unstable edges – so watch your steps as you transition on and off the snow patches. Otherwise a beautiful evening for a hike." — markhadland • Apr 20, 2021

"Seldom seen side of Mailbox Peak from Dirty Box Peak and beyond. Almost sent the entire Box Ridge solo to Dirty Harry’s Peak before getting cliffed out midway between DBP and DHP. The route up the old trail was dry until about 3600 feet, then the snow was persistent. I suggest wearing microspikes at a minimum – make that mandatory – the way down after the afternoon heat was slick. Up and down the rock section to the summit was easy in spikes. It’s possible to glissade down about 500 feet from the summit. I set out today to simply climb MPB to get some vert in for the Facebook Group PNW Peak Baggers virtual Mount Everest Challenge. I felt good after summiting Mount St. Helens Friday, so after many years of researching, planning, reconnoitering, and a false start or two, took off down the ridge for Dirtybok Peak. My initial obstacle was route finding after another hiker decided to relieve himself right on the rocks I was planning to disembark upon – oh well. I scrambled down the initial rocks and set forth on the ridge – it was fairly straightforward as the snow was still firm. Although narrow in places, the snowy ridge was navigable. About a quarter of the way along the ridge ..." — markhadland • Apr 18, 2021

"Closing in on the end of WAT Hike A Thon 2020 I wanted to get in some last miles and vertical. Had a late start so chose Mailbox Peak. Arrived to an open lot with many spaces which was shocking, especially my start at the old TH at 2PM. This was my 7th summit. Said I would not do it again, but I want to to the MBP, DBP, DHP traverse, or at lease summit Dirty Box Peak, and my youngest son has not yet suffered this experience up the old trail, so a few more future climbs for me. Alas with the late start, solo (don't like scrambling solo), and tired from other hikes, it took me a while to get up the old trail. I don't miss this route :) . I encountered a couple of folks near the junction with the new trail who were a bit disoriented, tired, and ill-prepared - most of the 10 essentials were lacking - please always bring them! I helped them up to the junction and set them down the new trail, as the old was not for them today. Summit was not crowded. There was more foliage near the very summit than I recalled from past years, maybe due to a later season climb for me. I took the new route down as I did not want the knee pounding today. It was getting dark on the way down - gla..." — markhadland • Aug 30, 2020

"I conquered Mailbox yesterday. 4000 ft vertical gain. It seems to have conquered me today. Up the steep old trail and down the long new trail. I also tried for Dirtybox, but ran out of time. I was within about 400 meters, but there was another small cliffy area to negotiate. The snow was deep, and the ridge is tricky in some spots, with a steep drop to the right and a sheer drop with cornices on the right. Next time. 4000 ft gain, 8 miles, 9 hours" — markgarrett • Apr 21, 2017

"Early season loop out of Dirty Harry's TH. Headed up road to the fire training center and then found the old trail from there up Mailbox. Traversed over to Dirty Box (fairly easy) then over to DIrty Harry. Went straight up the west ridge of Dirty Harry which involved some exposed class 4 moves. Then followed the trail down to the basin below Webb, ascended the Talus slop to Web and followed Banana Ridge over P3 and then to Defiance. Dropped down to Mason Lake and then to Ira springs. Then closed the loop out with some running. " — stukesowle • Apr 19, 2016

"Amazing - 2 weeks later, pretty much no snow is left. Still a great trainer, but time to start going up a little higher now with snow melting this fast! Went back down the Old Trail for the first time - way better than the new one!" — BryHong8 • Mar 5, 2016

"Just logging 'ol Mailbox - quick training hike. Left car 6:50 AM, summit via old trail at 9:05, back, to car at 10:45 via new trail, home by 11:30 for lunch! Nice to do it with some snow left and only a few people. Lots of wind and blowdowns on the new trail" — BryHong8 • Feb 21, 2016

"Overcast day, our first time up Mailbox, and we used the old trail. A bit difficult to follow towards the top (thank you "tree diamonds"!) where the old trail meets up with the new. Definitely a great work out, and worth it to avoid switchbacks and too many people. Have to admit though, the new trail is nice on the knees going down, and it's nice and relatively rock and root free, so it's easy to jog down." — BryHong8 • Mar 27, 2015