Mailbox Peak lives up to every one of those adjectives.
A little know hike, Mailbox Peak is often wispered about on trails and in beer halls, it is difficult to find in a hiking book, and evidently not maintained on purpose. However Mailbox peak is a great work out, a fantastic training hike and something of a badge of honor. Given you can find someone else who has heard of it to brag.
On this page you will find, directions to the trail head, route info, mailbox? and additional photos.
Directions to the Mailbox Peak trail head:
From Seattle drive I-90 E to exit 34
Turn N from the freeway and go through the small town of Edgewick.
Turn R on Middle Fork Rd - Turn on your trip meeter here.
You will pass a middle school to your left, keep going and you will come to a washed out closed road, keep going and pass several houses.
Middle Fork Rd will come to a junction at Valley Camp (A minsitry outdoor camp I think) 2.2 miles from where you turned on Middle Fork Rd.
Turn L
You will go by a sign that says you are entering a fishing area.
Park in the wide spot to your left just past the fishing area sign.
Round trip, budget about 5 hours. Again, really steep.