The DNR has been building the new Mailbox Peak trail for several years and it’s nearly complete. Work on the lower switchbacks began in 2012 using a small excavator while another crew worked by hand down from the top. A new parking lot was built in 2013 and by the end of that year the new trail connected with the old trail at 3900′, just below the big talus field. Work continued in succeeding seasons to add bridges, improve drainage at smaller creek crossings, and improve the tread.
In 2016 most of the work was focused on the section of trail through the talus field and continuing on an open ridge to the summit. The old trail alignment veered to the north side of the ridge line and passed through a grove of old growth hemlock trees. They were beautiful and stately, but the impact of thousands of boots stepping on the trail that was in large part roots of these trees threatened their health. Heavy duty rock work was required to construct trail switchbacks through the talus, but this trail will melt out sooner in the spring and is indestructible. Above the talus the tread is now restricted to a single path instead of multiple braids, and much of it has been improved with sturdy rock steps. Previously this was an erosion-prone dirty gully with rocks continually working loose from boot traffic.
Only a short section remains before the new Mailbox trail is completed, and we can expect that to occur in 2017.
Illustration of work done on this year on the upper section of the new Mailbox trail. The work on the final section to the summit is not complete yet.
Junction of the new and old trails. The new trail now goes straight ahead instead of steeply up to the left.
Easy section just past the new/old trail junction
New switchback on the south side below the talus field
The new trail enters the talus field on the south side of the ridge. This avoids the rooty trail through the old growth hemlocks which would have harmed them over time.
New trail through talus
Building a trail through the talus field. Photo courtesy of DNR.
The crew did a great job laying flat stepping stones here
This is the top of talus trail section where the trail leaves the talus field
The blocked old trail from the other side of the blockage. There’s no reason for anyone to go this way now — the talus field has big views and secure footing.
Well done rock step work where it used to be semi-loose rocks in a dirty gully
Obviously this is beyond the point that the trail crew got to. This is what much of the ridge trail used to look like.
