Time : I hiked up in 2.5 hours. Coming down, I always expect it to be much quicker. But eventually your knees start to get sore and you lose your footing a few times so I end up going slower. Still, luckily, it took just 1.5 hours coming down. The first time I did this hike, it took just as long going up as it did coming down. But there was also a lot of snow on the ground.
Elevation Gain : At the top, my GPS unit said I was at 4,818 feet. At the parking area, I was around 800 feet. The 4,000+ feet elevation gain is on par with what other websites say.
I did this hike 2 days ago and feel like I'm still recovering. My knees, thighs, calves still feel sore every time I get out of my chair. It's great training for even tougher hikes on Mt Rainier, Mt Adams, and other high altitudes. It's hard to imagine that the top of Mailbox Peak is higher than the nearby Summit at Snoqualmie ski areas (except for the top of Alpental). Yet, when you're starting out, you're right next to a river. It's similar in altitude gained from Paradise (5,400 feet) to Camp Muir (at about 10,000) on Mt Rainier. However, this hike is probably steeper and you can't glissade while coming down.
