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Mount Pilchuck Letterbox LbNA #24552

Owner:TreBear
Plant date:Jul 15, 2006
Location:
City:Granite Falls
County:Snohomish
State:Washington
Boxes:1
Found by: Martini Man
Last found:Aug 31, 2006
Status:F
Last edited:Jul 15, 2006
The letterbox is hidden along the Mount Pilchuck Trail in the Darrington Ranger District of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. From I-5, just north of Everett, take exit 194 onto Hwy 2. Head north on Hwy 204 toward Lake Stevens. Turn north on Hwy 9, and then east on Hwy 92 to Granite Falls. The Verlot Forest Ranger Service Center is 11 miles east of Granite Falls on Mountain Loop Highway where you can purchase a Northwest Forest Pass, which is required for each vehicle parked at the trailhead. Leaving the Service Center continue east on the Mountain Loop Highway for 1.0 mile. Turn right (south) on the Pilchuck Road (Forest Service Road #42) and continue for 6.9 miles to the trailhead.

The popular three-mile trail to the summit and old 1918 fire lookout begins at 3100 feet above sea level and winds through an old growth forest up to boulders and large rocks at the peak. The trail is often covered with snow until midsummer, so the letterbox is only accessible during the summer and early fall. Be sure to sign in at the wooden station after entering the trail head, and then continue hiking up, up, up until you reach the top. On a clear day the 5324 foot summit has spectacular views of the Cascades, Olympics, and Puget Sound. It’s a bit of a scramble to get up to, but the 360 degree views from the look-out tower are well worth the climb. It’s also a great spot to stop for a bite of lunch.

From the lookout tower, use the west side “diving platform.” Scramble down the boulders to the dirt trail located approximately 45 degrees off the northwest corner of the tower. Travel down the trail until you spot a large boulder along the left side of the path with yellow spray paint, “60 ft. to Pilchuck L.O.” Walk around the boulder until you see the deep crevice on the downhill (left-hand) side of the rock. The letterbox is hidden deep in the crevice under some smaller loose rocks.

While at Mt. Pilchuck, also check out another letterbox at the summit by Green Tortuga. http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=45