*
On August 21, 2002 Funhog placed the Mountain View Letterbox
near the town of Mt. Shasta, Shasta County, California. If you
need to stretch your legs while driving I-5, this is the perfect
place to do it. The trail is only ten minutes from the freeway but a
world apart in terms of atmosphere. The box may be
inaccessible during the winter months. The view of the mountain
from the letterbox is filtered through the trees but all along the
highway you will be treated its breathtaking glory.

To the trailhead: from the stoplight at E. Lake and Mt. Shasta
Blvd. in the center of town, head uphill on E. Lake which will
become the Everitt Memorial Highway (A-10.) About five miles
past the high school (Go Bears!) you will come to the McBride
Springs Campground. A quarter mile beyond this point, at mile
marker 4, park on the right side in a large turnout.

To the letterbox: Cross the road and head up the trail. Just when
you can no longer see the road over your shoulder you will come
to a small clearing with four tall Ponderosa pines and a stump.
About 150 steps further up the path veer left between two sawn
logs. Cross a rocky stream bed (dry in August.) Just before the
trail makes a sharp right turn you will meet a row of stone-faced
guardians gazing across the path at a lone manzanita, a
ponderous neighbor guarding their backs. The largest of the
guards has a second charge in its safekeeping, a letterbox.