Trip Reports

We had planned a family hike up to the Big Four ice caves, until we woke to drizzle this morning. Brianna's hopes were dashed! She melted into tears, lamenting ""I have been waiting for 3 years to go back there!"" When you are only 8, that is almost half of your life! I could feel her pain, how many hikes I have planned and watched disintegrate in front of my eyes before my feet felt the trail! Grammy could not let her down. Since I was going, my daughter, Angela agreed to come along. Her husband Scott, thought he should go with us too, and of course 14 year old Felicia did not want to stay home! I talked to my son Mark, told him it would be fun if he came even if his family did not. But since he was coming, his wife Evelyn and my grandson Richard did not want to be left out since ""everyone else"" was going!

It was a wonderful day, really perfect hiking weather, cool, overcast, and the drizzle stopped before we even left town. They are doing lots of good trail work near the basin, -my that looked like hard work! I am pleased, with the amount of people on this trail it is good to have a solid trail that can accomodate the impact.

This trai is only 1 mile in length but packs in sceenery, wild fowers, rocks and boulders to climb on, creeks, a river, neat bridges, high rock walls and jaw dropping beauty! On top of all that, there is interesting history here, as well.

There were 3 caves, the main cave in the rock basin at the end of the trail, then up over the shoulder to the right was a long skinny ""trench"" of a cave pretty high up on the rocks. There were some people who had climbed up to it. The rocks looked too steep and unstable for me. We had lunch on the flat top of a mamoth boulder located on the little ridge between the two basins, then went to the other cave that had the water fall at the back of it. Camera's were clicking all along the way! It was beautiful to watch the water fall coming down from high above, over the rock face, then slipping in behind the cave, finally coming out in a bubbling creek at our feet.

Our hike took about 4-5 hours, not because we could not travel a one mile trail any faster, but there was so much to see and so much ""playing"" for the kids to do! Everyone had a tremendous time.

I had been on the Big Four Ice Caves trail twice before but had always missed the ice caves. After dilly dallying on Mt Dickerman in the morning I jaunted out on the ice caves trail. This time I was not disappointed; this time I was awed. The ice caves were numerous and large; not much of a blue tint anywhere, only cool wet dripping goodness. The caves become more spectacular as you head right (west) across the rock field. The ones on the left are small - more cracks than caves; this is where a busload of children played. The one on the far fight forms a natural bridge. The masterpiece, however, is the second from the right. It's a large tunnel heading straight back towards the mountain cliff. It runs 50 to 75 feet through darkness before exploding in a waterfall that cascades down the cliff. At least when I was there, around 1 PM, sunlight illuminated the falls. As with Dickerman, crowds were light; there were only 6 or 7 cars in the trailhead parking lot at lunchtime.

The trail is in very good shape, the hike was a popular trip for many families. The biggest ice cave was the main attraction along with climbing up many of the boulders in the area. There are also about 4 other caves to the west of the main cave and they are a great spot for pictures, along with the beautiful water falls that flow out of them. The one mile trip up is a nice day hike for the family.

Family visited the ice caves today. Trip was great. Trail is dry. Crowds were pretty light. Caves were fantastic.

We had a great breakfast at a cafe in Granite falls, picked up a forest permit in Verlot ($5 day, $30year), and found the trailhead by around 10:30am. Spent about 25 minutes hiking up to the caves. I was worried this late in the morning on a weekend would be rush hour on the trail, but it was surprisingly light. Only about 10 cars in the trail parking lot. Probably a few more over at the pickic area. We had a decent amount of privacy at the caves until about 12:30 when we headed back. The parking lot was probably half full at 1pm when we drove out.

Initial impression when hitting the caves was mild dissapointment. Cliff face, snow pack, and waterfalls were awsome, but we didn't really see any caves at first. There was a large snow pack right at the top of the trail but no caves. Good news, there was a lot we didn't see at first glance.

We saw one and then two caves way over to the right of the top of the trail. They looked really small from where we were, (picture attached) but were huge when we got up to them. We saw people walking over there so decided to go exploring.

Turns out there were probably 6-8 caves along the whole snow pack. Most were big enough to walk into (although I would strongly discourage that). There is a hill or ridge that bisects the rocky area in front of the snow pack. This was hiding most of the good stuff from plain view. There are steep trails going up and down that hill that many were using. We found it significantly easier to walk up to the edge of the snow pack and follow the rockline along to the right. Many other people seemed to be completely unaware of the cool caves around the hill. I wonder how many left dissapointed because they didn't look just a little bit further.

Our favorite spot was a waterfall behind the snow pack that can be reached without walking on the snow, or through a cave. It can be reached through a cave, but again, I wouldn't recommend it. We saw a small collapse while we were hanging out there. It was pretty far to the right. The snow had melted all the way back to the cliff face. You could walk up there and safely sneak down behind the snow. We took a light shower in the falls. Fantastic for a hot day.

The other attached photo should help provide the scale of some of the caves for anyone that hasn't seen them before. You can see some of us standing between two caves. They are clearly over our heads.

I highly recommend the trip for just about everyone. We even saw strollers on the trail, although they would have problems in the rock field eventually. I'd recommend getting there early to get some more privacy. This is a very popular destination for obvious reasons.

Enjoy and keep exploring

After a difficult pregnancy and recovery from a C-section, I desperately needed to get out into nature. I invited some friends and packed up the kids and we went to Big Four for the day. The weather was supposed to get into the 70’s, but the marine clouds never burnt off, and I was glad I had packed warmer clothes and hats for the kids. I have quite a bit of experience hiking with one child, but adding a new baby to the mix proved more challenging. Our party consisted of 3 moms, 3 three-year olds, a12-month old, 10-month old, and 7 week old baby. We were quite a sight. Between potty breaks, cajoling the kids to eat, trying to get them to use the outhouse, nursing babies, and changing diapers, it took us 2 hours to eat lunch and get situated to leave the parking lot. I was beginning to despair, but eventually we got everyone together and off we went up the trail. Everyone did a great job hiking; that was actually the easiest part of the day. We rested for quite awhile at the end of the trail near the ice caves, where two of the children had their first pooping-behind-a-bush experience, and one fell and bonked his head on a rock. One of the boys also lost it when his foot got wet crossing the creek. We bribed the kids back down the trail with the promise of green jelly beans when we reached the cars. Then it was quite a trial to get everyone unpacked and into the cars.

Sometimes I wonder if it is worth the hassle and stress taking such young children hiking, but then my son will say “Remember when we saw the snow? I loved that hike. When can we go again?” and he will see Mt. Rainier and ask if we can climb to the top this summer, and I know I have done my job: I have brainwashed him into being my hiking partner until he is too embarrassed to be seen with me.

Big Four is one of my favorite spring hikes, even though it is easy enough to push a stroller the whole way, and all the touristy hikers go there. It is so gorgeous and peaceful, with the bird songs, fresh air, interesting flora, and cool destination. The ice caves have not begun forming yet, but there were several kinds of wildflowers, such as purple and yellow violets, bleeding hearts, bunchberry, and a few others I have forgotten. There were a few mosquitoes out, and we think we even found a tick crawling on one of the babies. Hummingbirds were buzzing all around the marshy area, and we heard many other birds. The kids loved the streams and little waterfalls along the way. They felt so victorious at the end, and my son keeps talking about it weeks later. Hopefully my daughter will grow to love hiking and nature as much as he does.

Three generations of my family hiked this short trail where my parents often took us as kids. Hadn't been there in >30 years and wow! It's so short! And no more slogging through the swamp to (hopefully) a log on which to cross the Stilly! Deluxe boardwalk and bridges and turnpike all the way! Trail snow free to just below the forested edge of the basin, we went no further as wet snow avalanches were thundering down the mountainside, at least 4 within an hour and 4 more booming as we hiked down. After getting back to the picnic area trailhead, it cleared enough to hear and see a spectacular avalanche rumble all the way from the top of Big Four Mountain down to the snow fans where the caves will eventually form. Signs warn of extreme avalanche danger so beware! Sadly alot of garbage at the trailhead and along the trail.

The Big Four Ice Caves area had 18 avalanches in a 2-hour period on the 7th of May. On the 14th of May there were 8 avalanches recorded during the day. It is strongly recommended that all hikers stop about 150 feet after leaving the forest. There are 7 avalanche debris fields along the north face of Big Four. The last big avalanche down the main avalanche chute [the area where the ice caves form] left a snow ridge about 100 feet from the trail!! Snow is still on trail about 250 feet from the recommended stopping point.

Ice cave formation will be late this year. Maybe snow caves will open up in late June.

The weather has been very nice lately and a lot of the trailheads are melting out.The Mountain Loop Highway and other areas in the Darrington and Granite Falls areas of the MBSNF are still not

accessible by normal routes. Some trails such as the Goat Lake trail may require parking at alternate trailhead locations which will require an extended trek in on foot or an approach on a mountain bike.

The VEHICLE PROWLERS are also out earlier this seanson. The Lake 22 trailhead had sustained about (6) six break-in's in the past

several weeks involving breaking windows,Heather Lake had had(1)one vandalism to a vehicle (tires slashed & windows broken),and Barlow Pass area had had (1)one break-in by breaking a window.

With the exception of the Heather Lake occurrence,all have been

associated with vhicles that have had belongings such as car stereos

which had their removeable face-places in them,cases full of audio CD's,purses and wallets with personal ID and negotiable cards in them,GPS,MP3 Players,DVD Players,Cellular Phones,hiking gear and cloting,and even a briefcase with tax preperation documents inside of it.

Myself and the Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers that work

in and Patrol the facilities within the National Forest,have contact with persons who have had the above mentioned items with them in their vehicles...most are out in plain-view for everyone to see.

This is an open invitation for anyone who might not even normally steal something to do so. These are what we refer to a ""CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY"".

The criminal elements that prowl the forests do not need an opportunity,they are already out there actively looking. Do not give them the opportunity.

Please leave any items that are not a necessity at home or throw

them into your pack and take them with you.

Some people choose to hide them in the trunk of their vehicles,

out of sight. The criminal elements have caught on to this and they know that if they break into a given number of vehicles,a percentage of them will produce ""loot"".

Do not be a victim. Clear out your vehicle and leave a note on the dash of the vehicle which states something to the fact of ""THERE

ARE NO VALUABLES IN THIS VEHICLE"". This tells the criminal elements that you have actually thought about it enough to have cleaned out your vehicle and left the note to let them know that. Chances are they are mush less likely to take the chance of breaking into a vehicle that has been posted as a ""CLEAN VEHICLE"".

Please report any suspicious persons and/or vehicles to the nearest Ranger Station,Public Service Center,or to the Local Police.

Call 911 from any local phone,or contact the 911 Center (SNOPAC) from your home outside Snohomish County,or your Cellular Phone at 425-407-3970 or 3971.

Cellular service is nor likely while in the National Forest unless you are at an elevated location,but call as soon is convenient. Your call could be the one that leads the police to the person(s) responsible for the break-ins.

DO NOT BE PARANOID ABOUT THESE ISSUES,BEAWARE AND EDUCATED ABOUT THEM.

Now get out and enjoy the great outdoors! =(:0))

Deputy Rasar

As I flipped my calander page over to March, and saw spring listed on the 20th, I thought I would celebrate it by taking a hike! We set off on a crispy clear morning, with frost on the Mountain Loop Highway as far as Deer Creek where the gate is closed. On the other side of the gate there was a coating of snow over the road, but well consolidated and with a frozen crust on top. We crunched along happily, enjoying the snow capped mountain peeks around us, stopping for short breaks to take a picture or adjust clothing. The higher the sun got the warmer we became!

In the Big Four picnic area was about 18-24 inches of solid snow with a good crust. We had lunch in the shelter then went up the 1 mile trail. It is just beautiful going through the frozen marshes on the boardwalk! There was snow on the boardwalk elevating it a foot or two, but still firm enough so we did not sink, and crusty enough so it was not slippery. We took several photos of the marshes, and the mountains reflecting in them.

The bridge crossing the Stilliguamish river was coverd with even more snow, so our footing was almost level with the tops of the railings. The river was gorgeous, with mounds of snow on each rock and log, and several more pictures were taken. With a blue sky for the background, and sunlight and shadows playing over the scene, everything is so much prettier! We felt really pleased to have such a nice day, when we were able to get out and enjoy it!

We stopped short of the basin at the end of the trail. We did not have snow shoes, and the snow at that point was soft and deep causing us to sink with each step. We went far enough to gaze at Big 4 and listen to the silent forest with the creek gurgling in the background as we took a break.

There was one blow down over the trail, a small tree about 8"" in diameter. There were quite a few others out enjoying the sun on this wonderful day, a group of 12 or 13 who were from the Lynnwood Senior Center (who I was glad not to be with since I could not have gone that pace!) There were also a couple of other hikers, snow shoers, and skiers.

When I returned to my car there was a note on the windshild asking me not to park in the turn around area. I felt so bad, it was an oversight on my part and I would like to apologize.

I drove to the gated mountain loop highway at deer creek to start xc skiing to the ice caves. The snow is marginal at first so I decided to hike up the road about 1/4 mile befour putting on the ski's. At this point the skiing was better but icy. By the time you get to the big four picnic area the skiing was pretty good on a well packed down trail on hard snow. I saw a few folk's heading in with snow shoes but untill it snows again these will not be needed. There is a very easy trail to follow all the way into the base of big four. The snow in the small meadow below the mountain is hard snow which one can easily walk on without breaking through. Skiing was fun up in here with little to no avalanche potential at this time. You can see where some very large ones had come down this winter one forming a wall at least 10 feet high. Back at the picnic area I was able to stretch out on one of the tables and enjoy the warmth of the sun while feeding several blue jays who seem to enjoy peanut butter filled pretzel's.

There is six inches or less snow on most of the short well maintained trail, and up to two feet in the open area at the top. It was snowing heavaly, so expect more snow. There signs up everywere warning of high avalanch danger, which we experenced first hand! We were caught in the tail end of a rather minor event, but still experenced about twenty mph winds and near white-out conditions on an otherwise calm day. One look around at the chushed trees and truck sized bolders from previous events hit home how real this danger is, even on an easy trail like big four.

No parcipitation at the trailhead, but snowing heavily at the Ice Caves, and all the way back. Of course, you can't see the Ice Caves when all is white, but Big Four was impressive with fresh snow. Only saw two other hikers, but lots of folks on the Mountain Loop this morning. No blow downs.

For a winter picnic and a nice walk, my daughter and grandaughter went with me up to the Big Four picnic area. The snowy mountains all around us were stunning. We heard no avalanche activity this day, though we were hoping for some. The road was bare and wet. We parked at the gate which was closed, and walked the short distance to the picnic shelter. Then after lunch we still had a little time so we went up the trail about 2/3 of the way... so hard to turn around! But another child had to be picked up from school, can't be late for that! The boardwalks are all in great condition, as is the trail. I was surprised (and a little disapointed at how little snow there is). With all the leaves off the trees the moss really stood out! There were small patches of snow on the trail, along with ice in places.

The rain was occasional, but heavy at times; so I opted for a few short hikes Saturday morning along the Mountain Loop Highway. The fall colors along the Highway are great right now. First was Coal Lake, which is maybe the shortest hike on earth. I would estimate 75 yards to the Lake from the parking lot. The orange and red around the Lake were brilliant. From here I could see snow on the trees a few hundred feet higher. So I drove the half mile to the Independence Lake Trailhead. It was snowing at the Lake, but only sticking on logs. Decided not to venture up to North Lake today. Couple of blow-downs on the trail to Independence. Last, I headed down the hill and hiked to the Ice Caves, and explored the basin for awhile, during a nice break in the rain. Never thought I could have the Ice Caves to myself on a Saturday afternoon, but I did for a little while.

A great trail to hike on to an interesting place. The Ice cave still exists in this dry year What we saw was the result of a low snow year. Will come back next year to see what it looks like after a snowy winter.

This is an amazing trail to bring children on who are not sure they really like the idea of ""hiking"" and would rather just ""play""... like my 10 year old grandson Richard! He had a wonderful time. The short one mile trail is in very good condition. The views are always impressive. But the thing that makes this work so well for children are the many points of interrest all along the trail! After examining the old chimney, he had a great time poking a stick into the swamp water and watching the bubbles come up. This released a scent of strong ""swamp-smell"". Then comes the large bridge over the Stilligaumish river where I showed him the pool where I have been able to spot fish from the bridge. Next is the little creek, and rocks to drop into it. The forest is full of huge trees and many that have gone over, exposing thier root systems. Once in the rock basin, the high cliffs are a sight to see. The caves are melted back farther then I have ever seen. They are 2 very tall shallow ones. They were melting fast, and hunks of ice occaisionally dropped. He worked like a beaver chopping on the ice, and throwing rocks on it trying to collapse the edge of it. It was a wonderful day for all of us, and fun to see my son, Mark, bring his son, Richard, to do all the things that he enjoyed doing when I took him there at Richards age!

Took a late trip up to the ice caves. Due to our late arrival (6pm), for the first time, no one was there! An easy pleasant, evening walk. No snow in sight, except for the caves, and at the rate they're melting, these may be gone this summer too, so if you want to see them, GO NOW! Lots of debris raining from the inside of the caves, so I wouldn't recommend going inside! They look like they could collapse at any time. Only one waterfall coming down the face of the mountain--usually there are several, even (usually) well into September-- a testament to the very dry year we're having. Bugs were light too.

Big 4 ice caves is more melted out than I have ever seen it. The caves to the East of the main (nearest) one are completely gone. In fact there are waterfalls you can walk under that used to be ice. The trail is so good it could be negotiated by some in a wheel chair. It’s only 1 mile but if you choose to there are places where one can scramble on boulders or even climb a cliff. This is a great place to go on a warm summer day. The temperature gets great if you just hang around the ice.

Note: Don’t go inside the caves they are DANGEROUS. If you ever hear a cave in you will be convinced. There are always plenty of people dumb enough to go inside, especially now that no one has been killed in 5 years or so. It’s a great family place providing you can keep little ones under control.

Few bugs (mosquitoes) Great day!

Hope no one was in there! About thirty people taking pictures, and/or exploring around the Ice Caves on Monday, when all of the sudden, about 3 tons of cave roof collapsed into a pile. We were sitting at the trailend bench when it came down. Glad I took the picture earlier.

Trailhead gates are unlocked and the trail is in perfect shape, as always. Some fresh snow way up top of Big Four but it will probably just melt. Caves are starting to form now but are not very impressive yet. Very cold air blowing through the openings though. The biggest cave is about five feet high. Lots of wildflowers growing in the cave basin. Waterfalls are still running.

Beautiful day, no bugs, just pure joy. No caves due to sparse snowfall, but lofty cascades and the sheer rock face of Big Four are glorious as always. Main avalanche route has a good ice wedge at its base, but no caves. Found some leaf fossils in the shale to the left side of the icefall, much to my surprise. Trail is in excellent condition.

Always fun to stop and see the ice caves. The trail in is very smooth, meticulously groomed, and boring. You cross a nice marsh and over the river, but the real payoff is getting to the ice cave basin.

No caves have formed yet. It looks like the bulk of the cave-forming snow is down, but any caves have been obliterated by avalanches. The biggest 'cave' is only about 12 inches high. Many spectacular waterfalls coming down off Big Four, lots and lots of water.

Parked at the picnic area, as far as I know the trialhead gates are locked. Some bugs. This is the worst trail for trash. Packed out what I could but there is still more and several beer cans in the marshes. Argh.

There is still some snow on Big Four, so there is still an avalanche danger. Be careful.

Gate at Deer Creek Road has been closed due to snow so the Kelcema Lake trail #718 is only accessible by hiking the Deer Creek Road.

Big Four Ice Caves the Gate at the Ice Caves Picnic area Parking lot has been closed due to snow and avalanche danger. Use extreme caution if hiking this trail.

The ice caves were already visible, but still impressive to see. The trail is very well maintained, but there are fallen logs over two parts (nothing difficult to get over).

Some snow/ice on the trail just as it nears the caves.

Great day for a hike. High clouds with beautiful sun breaks. What a site to see. Climbed over ridge to find an amazing waterfall. I will submit pix in April; since I've already submitted my limited this month. I hiked with my 2 year old on my back and jogged down the trail for fun. Overall, very easy hike. Watch your step, it's slippery.

Nine in our party arrived at the Mountain Loop Highway just past Deer Creek road #4052 at 9:40 AM. Being the first ones there, we chose to park away from snow-laden trees. After the fresh snow overnight, there was only 3 – 4 inches of snow on the roadway -- not enough snow to warrant wearing snowshoes, so we carried them. The clean, clear air offered good views of the surrounding mountains. The hushed burbling of the nearby South Fork of the Stillaguamish River broke the quietness of the snow-covered environment. We walked up the Mountain Loop Highway for 2 miles to the Big Four picnic area, and then took the Ice Caves trail #723 for another ¾ mile or so to the avalanche danger signs. Last year’s ice caves were still visible in the distance at the base of the cliffs due to the light snowfall so far this season. Realizing the fresh snow last night could contribute to an avalanche any moment we went no further. On the way back, we stopped for lunch at the picnic shelter and observed a few blue jays flitting about looking for handouts. A few in our party tried out their snowshoes in the deeper snow (6” or so) around the Big Four area. During our return on the road, a couple of snowmobiles zoomed about, reminding us of the variety of users in this popular area. Driving out we found that incoming traffic had compacted the snow on the roads increasing the slipperyness. Overall, a good day for a no-bug snow hike in the mountains with great people.

I thought I had communicated correctly with a friend that we would take our toddlers hiking, but she called to say she wasn't coming after I had already left the house to drive to the trailhead. After waiting for an hour at the trailhead with a bored two-yead-old, I gave up doing Perry Creek to the waterfall and went to the Big Four Ice Caves instead. We had lunch in the sun at the picnic area. It was much warmer there than I had expected, and the autumn light from the sun was golden and clear. There weren't as many birds chirping as there were last spring when I was there, but a few Stellar's jays came around when we were eating.

We finished lunch, got the pack out, and started up the trail a bit after noon. My son said he'd like to walk instead of go in the pack, but he soon got frightened by the noise of the backhoe on the Mountain Loop Highway, and needed to be carried most of the way. That was fine, since he needed a nap anyway, and slept for much of the short and easy hike up to the caves.

There is a very large main cave this year. It doesn't seem that impressive until you see people standing in front of the opening, and they look miniscule. The meltwater from the caves travels under the rocks for quite a while before bubbling out over them to form a stream. Playing in the water and throwing rocks was our main agenda for the afternoon. The air was quite a bit colder in the basin, especially after 1:00 when the sun went behind Big Four. We donned fleece and wool sweaters and hats, and my son's hands were still freezing. We saw several other people on the trail, as usual, which I was counting on, since we were alone. The colors of the plants are beautiful, if a bit muted, in the afternoon sunlight. I eventually decided it was time to head back, and my son walked a bit of the way back down the trail. He kept getting distracted by the beautiful white-gray rocks used for the trail, and I got tired of standing around telling him to keep walking. We made it back quickly to the trailhead, and I let him out to run around some more before we headed back home.

I chatted with a friendly man who was really interested in my pack, and when I got back to the car, I found my battery was dead. Apparently my son had turned on my car lights while I was putting on my boots; he takes any and every opportunity to fiddle with the forbidden knobs and buttons on the dash. I thought I had fixed everything he touched, but obviously not. So, I went back and found the nice man, who was talking with a forest ranger, and they came and helped my jumpstart my car. Luckily I had jumper cables; neither of them did. I was mildly embarrassed, but no lasting harm done. We made it home to Lynnwood in good time (it takes an hour and a half from my house.)

This is becoming one of my favorite places to come when I just need to get out to the mountains with minimal effort. There are always lots of people there, so I feel relatively safe going without partners. The scenery is gorgeous, and it's such a unique spot.

The area around the Ice Caves right now is an absolute smorgasboard of blooming wildflowers. With the backdrop of the glacier, one can take some phenomonal photos. Trail is in perfect shape. Go early and beat the crowds, but go. Wander off to the right as far as the meadow beneath the cliffs of Big Four allow. More flowers, and incredible waterfalls.

Quick half-day trip out to the mountains for Christmas...it was gorgeous. Great snow for snowshoeing (can be hiked in boots because pretty tramped down), and snowball fights and snowman building! With the heavy wet snow that was rapidly coming down fast, avalanches were being released every 5-10 minutes. We got to see three large ones! Trail in good shape for winter and nice, 2 mile round trip distance perfect for those who are not hikers in the family.

Took an easy jaunt up to see how the ice caves were melting out. The trail is very nice and easy since the rebuild of the last couple of years--maybe too nice! Anyone with shoes/sandals can make it the easy mile to the cave's vicinity--truly a superhighway among trails! We saw kids and moms and dads of all ages on the way up and down. Most looked like they were on a walk after Sunday church services--not your standard day-hiker crowd. At the speed the ice is melting, it's hard to believe the ice pack will last the rest of the summer. I was up here just 2 weeks ago and there is significant shrinkage of the ice since then. Almost ventured in the caves a bit, but then thought the better of it. Didn't want to become another statistic of a cave collapse. There were several areas that had collapsed since my last visit. All in all, a good ""family"" hike to a scenic area of some historic interest--just don't expect any solitude! (No bugs either, thankfully!)

Just ""up the road a piece"" from Youth on Age #738 is the trail to the Big Four Ice Caves #723. For some reason, I had it in my head that the 1-mile trail to the ice caves was ""accessible.""

My wife and I decided to take a run at it on a Friday night with our daughter. We found that the trail was in absolutely great shape. The tread is about four feet wide. It's ""paved"" with a fine aggregate that has packed down nicely and is crowned for drainage. We found the trail to be fully accessible WITH THE EQUIPMENT WE WERE USING. I had no trouble pushing my 90-lb daughter up the route in her rubber-tired jogger chair.

After crossing a wetland area and the SF Stillaguamish River, the trail passes through thick second/third growth forest with minimal underbrush. The terminus of the barrier-free trail is not right at the mouth of the ice caves. It ends at an overlook that faces the base of the ice, across a field of large talus. In the final approach to the overlook, the trail had a couple of pinch points that were too narrow for the rear wheels of the jogger. My daughter enjoyed doing front wheel ""wheelies"" to get the rear wheels over the restricting rocks.

The moisture in the air allowed us to ""see"" huge volumes of cold air blasting out from the opening at the base of the ice. We also saw lots of wildflowers in the last tenth of a mile.

The trip back down was not a problem either. However, I did take a second to run my belt through the wrist loop on the chair's safety strap. It was never a question of retaining control during the modest downgrades. I just felt better having the link between the cart and my weight a little closer to the ground. Our daughter loved getting a second trip across the bridges and listening to all the birds and running water again.

In today's litigious environment, its unlikely that the Big Four Ice Caves Trail will ever appear as an ""accessible trail."" I wouldn't recommend 723 to a conventional wheelchair user past the SF Stillaguamish River bridge because the grade is not always within acceptable standards. However the trail is barrier-free, wide, and relatively smooth. It worked for us.

Big Four Ice Caves, 2 mile round trip. Big Four was 98% out, just under the clouds, what a great mountain! The ice caves hike is nice to do on a weekday. The caves are exposed, although I didn’t have time to get close to them. But it’s always nice to stand at the base of Big Four and see all those trees along the trail that have been obliterated by avalanches over the years. Just be careful around those caves.

Josh Comen

Last stop for Lena The Dog and I before heading back to Olympia.

Great way to burn a couple of hours on a sweltering afternoon. The trail was great (only 1 mile long) to the caves. Big Four Mountain was very imposing.

Cold water creeks were flowing everywhere out of the snowfields. Though the caves weren't really formed yet, they offered a cool place to relax - and for Lena to roll in the snow.

I found one cave (about 3' high and about 15' wide) and sat on a rock in front of it. The cool water rolled over my sneakers, and the ice-cold air flowed all over my back. Natural air conditioning. It was great.

I assume that it may take another month or so of melt-out for the caves to become really ""interesting."" I wasn't disappointed though!

2 miles round trip - easy walking.

No snow on the trail. In fact, not that much snow beyond end of trail (despite posted warnings at trail head). No ice caves to speak of either. Just fine below-snow-level early spring hiking. Lots of blooming stinking cabbage along the boardwalk. No sightings of bug or big foot.

Our group of six (2 adults and 4 youth) enjoyed this hike on a beautiful spring-like day! The scenery was great, the sun was out and there were very few bugs. We arrived at the ice caves around 11:00 AM and stayed to eat lunch. We must have seen between 10 and 15 avalanches during the 1-1/2 hours we were there...it was awesome! You could hear them clearly even from the parking lot. Snow near the end of the trail but no need for snowshoes, although poles helped.

This is a wonderful winter hike. 3 of our party of 7 had never been hiking before, so this was an excellent choice. The Mountain Loop highway has not been barricaded off, there was no snow on it, at least as far as the Ice Cave trail head. The picnic area, and much of the trail had patches of snow, which had melted, frozen, and turned into solid ice. A walking stick helped.

The ice caves at the end of the trail were small, maybe 4-5 feet high. Around the bend to the right, some of the huge ones remained, and some were left standing as arches with the center of them collapsed. We could see lots of avalanche debre on the snow/rock field.

On this amazingly beautiful day in January, it was a real treat to get out and enjoy the sceenery. There were 2 small trees blowen over onto the trail, one was about 6 inches diameter, the other even smaller.

I was trying to think of a great short hike when I read the trip report by ""Husband&Wife"" on Big Four ice caves. Thank you. I have been there before several years ago, but they are far superior right now. The weather was perfect for this place, with clouds playing hide and seek around the peaks. The trail is new and smooth as a sidewalk. When you get to the end of the established trail, keep going up the rocks and to the right, heading towards the gap between the snow and the hillock to your right. All the best snow caves are over there. We (Tanja, Daisy and I), saw three separate caves with waterfalls visible out their backs. The caves have numerous entrances and passages, with scalloped sides and suspened arches. Just remember that all that ice weighs a ton and is as hard as rock. This is the best time of year for this place, for usually the threat of avalanche from the upper slopes prevents close-in exploration, but they are snow-free now. Also the caves are at maximum size for the year. An excellent wilderness-like experience just one mile from pavement. We were all alone there from 2 pm till 6:30.

What a perfect day for a hike! October is a great time to see the ice caves. At this point they are really well formed and there are hardly any people around. We saw no more than ten people. The trail is in fantastic shape as it has just been redone. It was cold up at the caves so dress accordingly. It’s only a mile to the end of the trail and we recommend moving off around the small hill to the right to see the real ice caves. Big Four Mtn slopes up incredibly displaying steep granite cliff sides and rises 4,000 ft above. While standing at the base, the glacial ice caves lie against the mountainside, with perfect half-domed openings, peaking inside displays shining ice blue walls disappearing into the darkness. Some cave openings over the hill to the right are at least 3 stories tall, and possess an unimaginable example of nature's architectural perfection. It's a sight unlike any other, and recommended for anyone who wants an amazing experience without the tough hiking!

This trail is an easy hike to a great spot to explore a bit. Being labor day weekend it was packed. The weather was cloudy and a bit rainy. the trail is the nicest thing I've ever seen. It's too bad other trails don't get this kind of love, but it does get a lot of use. Explored the ""mini"" glacier and ice caves for about an hour. Standing in front of the caves feels like your standing in front of an open freezer. An easy hike for the whole family.

Started our hike at noon. Weather was perfect. Trail not too busy to begin, it was a Wednesday. It got busier later in the afternoon and there were many children, a few dogs, and lots of tourists. Trail is in great condition, and most anyone can do this short hike. We had a disabled young healthy person with some walking difficulty but she did just fine. The snow caves have not yet developed, but the scenery is spectacular. Well worth the trip. We followed through with the circle drive, and I would not recommend that. It just isn't worth the time it takes.

Wow! This trail has been completely reworked, and what a terrific job they've done! Very easy, so don't hesitate to bring your folks or kids. The caves themselves are still covered with mounds of snow that don't look terribly safe (we climbed up them anyway, of course) but it's a lovely walk in the woods to a wonderful snowfield. My photos are on www.webofsteve.com.

Happy Hiking!

TRAIL HAD JUST BEEN CLEARED. SOME SNOW STILL EXISTS. TRAIL WAS EASY TO ACCESS WITH 2 YO IN PACK AND 8 YO ON FOOT. WIFE WITH LITTLE EXP. REALLY ENJOYED HIKE. CAVES ARE NOT VISIBLE YET, BUT WATER FALL AND VIEWS ARE WORTH THE EFFORT. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE IN A FEW YEARS, YOU WILL SEE WHERE SOME OF YOUR FEE MONEY GOES. THEY REALLY HAD TO WORK TO GET THIS ONE CLEARED, AND THE TRAIL HAS BEEN RE-WORKED AND IS MORE ""FAMILY"" FRIENDLY.

Wow. Lots of trees down. The trail was being worked on while we were there but they had a lot of work ahead. The last 1/4 mile was virtually un passable without great effort.

Signs posted at the base warn of high avalanche danger and risk of further treefall; hiking the trail is ""not recommended"". Parking lot and first bridge across the marsh are snow-free. Walked on some shallow snow and scrambled over one or two fallen trees to reach the bridge over the South Fork of the Stillaguamish. Past the far side of the bridge was a warning sign in the middle of the trail with a slightly more strident warning to turn back. From there we had to scramble over or find a way around fallen trees about every 100 feet. Footprints in the snow helped us in charting detours and refinding the trail. We gave up somewhere near the half mile point, not long after we identified a loud sound as being a jet rather than an avalanche. If we hadn't had a one-year-old in a backpack and a three-year-old who liked the challenge but was getting a bit punchy (missed her nap), we would have gone at least a little further. We didn't reach anything insurmountable, but decided we'd pushed our luck far enough for one day.

Arrived at the trailhead at about 5:30 pm. The rain just quit,but the upper part of Big Four was hidden in clouds. lots of snow on the trail but quite easy to follow the general direction to the ""basin"" and the cave area. We were amazed by the number of trees that have been wiped out just before leaving the forest at the edge of the basin. Wow! Must have been some awesome avalanches there this winter. We kept clear of even going close to the cave location as the amount of snow is amazing . beautiful time listening to avalanches and hearing the water cascading off of the mountain. Out by 7:30.....Next weekend Dickerman !?

Three to four feet of snow in the trees on the north side of the river. Four to five feet on the south side, including the south end of the bridge making it tough going beyond there. I predict it will be at least a week, maybe 4 weeks, until the trail is snow-free. Avalanches on the mountain were few, but once they started, they continued booming for at least a minute. We started at the picnic area and heard some booming (guns) from the direction of the trailhead parking lot, but for the most part, very peaceful.

Mountain loop highway opened to Barlow Pass today. Big four lower parking lot has been plowed, and picnic area is mostly snow-free. The trail is clear for a couple of hundred yards. Trail is easy to follow over the snow to the foor bridge over the river. Trail is closed by the forest service at the far end of the footbridge due to heavy snowpack, debris, and avalanche danger. The avalanches are spectacular to watch from the parking lot, and are well worth the drive. Also noticed a large population of biting insects in both the parking lot and on the trail through the swamp. I spoke to the ranger there, and they have no anticipated date for opening the trail to the ice caves basin.

Road closed at Deer Creek - we were the first ones to the gates. Snowshoes from the parking lot. About 2 miles to Big 4 Picnic area/Trailhead. Some of the trail had snowshoe tracks but they ended at the clearing by all the avalanche signs. As soon as we entered into the clearing we could hear the avalanches coming down. We broke trail and headed to the Northern section of the caves/cliffs as we were looking for some good beginner ice to play on with a friends new Ice Tools. Found a large Ice object near the cliffs that was about 25 feet high, so we set a deadman anchor and a belay station and had some fun. Met some other guys that we know from cascadeclimbers.com and had fun sharing stories with them. Just after we set a top rope I was below everyone near the cone from one cliff's worth of avalanches and heard a rumble above. I started to run as fast as I could with my snowshoes as the avalanche buried a ton of snow at the cone. It never got too close to me, but it all gave us a good scare. Never saw anyone else on the trail until we got to the Picnic area where it was stocked with Motorheads. That last stretch down the Mountain Loop Highway really stunk, literally! More than a dozen snowmobiles went back and forth and stuck that area up for us, and made me feel real sick once in awhile. Once back at the car it was like a circus with at least 50+ cars along the road with sledders and more. Fun day for sure. scott@nwog.org

The Mtn Loop Hwy is now closed at Deer Creek - about 1.5 miles west of Big Four. Although we were hoping for snow, it was continuous rain all day. There is about 18 or more inches of snow at the parking lot and it seems to increase the further in you go. We made it about half way before turning around since it was getting late. We did encounter two guys who said avalanches had covered the caves and were occuring about every five minutes or so (which we could clearly hear). There were also USFS folks posting avalanche warning signs. Snow shoes are definitely required!

A nice short one mile trail to get out of the car. The trail is being totally rebuilt to become wheel chair accessible and I greatly admire all the work involved. There's not much ice cave left this late in the year and the large entrance has collapsed. Still, the hike was enjoyable. We arrived at about 9 a.m and the sun was heating up the area. Fog drifted out of the caves due to the temperature and humidity differences making an ethereal atmosphere to enjoy. Well worthy of a look if you're in the area.

Instead of driving home along 20 / I-5 from Ross Lake, I opted for the scenic route and took the Mountain Loop highway from Rockport all the way to Granite Falls, and then on out to 522 in Monroe. This was the obligatory butt-plumping walk at the halfway point (or 2/3 way point). Plus it gave me an excuse to finish up a roll of film.

So I hustled out to the base of the mountain, and was promptly slowed by lots and lots and lots of mud. I suppose it had more to do with the rain from the night before, but because the whole trail from the Stilly bridge to the end it being rebuilt, there's lots of wear. Plus, the mud.

After I got over the mud (which never ended by the way), I was rather blown away by the work being done on rebuilding the trail. Lots of new boardwalks going in, the grade is being shifted towards the less steep side, it's being widened and the drainage is much better. Plus, there is a new bridge across the small cascade near the edge of the outwash plain, bordered by more mud. Once out into the open, there is really nice new rock guides along the trail too. And, now, there is a definitive end of the trail too! There is a nice little rotunda in the making, hopefully benches will be put in. Big time kudos to whoever is doing the work (especially if it's WTA work). Except, try to get rid of the mud.

Then it was on to the photography...after the mud. The waterfall is running pretty low right now, but still made for a decent study. The cave is huge! (yes there is only one, the second has already collapsed). Probably 30-40 feet tall, 50+ feet wide. Apparently just before I reached the end of the trail (while I was preoccupied with shooting some flowers or scraping mud off my shoes), a really big chunk of ice fell from the roof. Kind of dissapointing I missed it, but since I saw a pretty big avalanche up at Cascade Pass earlier in the day (where I ate lunch, no hike), I felt better. Slightly.

Did I mention there was lots of mud'

This was a great day for this hike with my 69 year old mom. This trail is very easy and well-maintained. There were a few muddy spots. It also looks like major trail maintenance is going on. Surprisingly, we encountered only one bug - a biting fly - that bit me at the ice caves.

The caves are open with crevasses up slope open as well. I'm still shocked to see the people playing on the ice and stepping into the caves. We witnessed one person walk inside one of the large caves to a pile of ice that fell from the roof. I suppose if the signs at the parking lot, along the trail and at the caves themselves didn't warn him, the pile of ice inside the caves meant nothing to him as well.

Took four kids (8&9) up the trail without problems. Their summary of the ice caves was, ""Cool!"" The trail is undergoing some serious renovation, but it doesn't impede hiking.

The caves themselves are gorgeous/dangerous, and well worth the short hike. Once faced with the enormous cave mouths, continue around the hill (to the right) and view some more. There's also a small waterfall and some wonderful sub-alpine wildflowers here.

Took a Sunday afternoon hike w/ the kids ( all 4 of them ages 7,6,2 and 1; the 2 babies in the Kelty's) to the ice caves. The trail was great ,the kids had a wonderful time, a lot of work has been done on the lower half adding new board walk, gravel, and even asphalt. The caves are well formned and gorgous. Still amazed at the stupidity of people, even w/ all of the danger signs posted they were walking right into the caves.

well we went there to see the humming birds that scat about the wetlands and parking area ! Mom being 78 went as far as the stilly As i started the uphill climb I noticed lumber and timber that had been air dropped they are making the trail which is allready a easy family day hike less of an incline and better treading There doing a great job well the trail is dry and clear the snow fields are melting i went to where you could see the first cave walked out on the ice field keeping a distance from the avalanche zone (anough people have died here please stay out of the caves ! ) it was my first time there and it was beutiful the granite peaks the waterfalls its a wonderful quick & easy hike and hey I am walking because i need to lose about a hundred pounds and I found it easy as long as i paced myself !

We started out right after work (4’ish) on Monday since it was going to be such a beautiful evening out and knew Big Four would be both beautiful and peaceful. The trail was clear, dry, and empty of people and an easy trek. You can see where trail work is being done in spots alone the way. The walk ways and bridges are very nice. We came upon the main snow bank which had many deep cracks which were icy blue, and saw only one cave which was spewing large amounts of mist. It was pretty eerie looking. Off to the right, there were 3 large caves. After viewing those caves, from a safe distance of course, we ventured back and took the route to the picnic area and laid in the grassy field and reflected on what life must have been like when the old Inn was there and visitors would come from all around to see Big Four in all it’s grandeur. My only warning: wear lots of bug stuff – the mosquitoes were biting.

I usually try to avoid the popular trails since most of my hiking is on the weekends, but on this rainy morning the Ice Caves weren't very popular. I arrived at the picnic area around 10am, after deciding I didn't want to hike to Goat Lake in the rain. There was a steady light rain the whole morning that added to the muddiness of the trail. You'll need a change of shoes after this hike. There are no snow caves right now, but there is a huge snow bank waiting to be carved. Lots of waterfalls coming the down the cliffs as well.

Trail pretty dry with little mud and no snow until you reach the basin. Started hike at about 1:00pm and came across 20 to 30 people on the trail and at the basin (pretty crowded.) Witnessed one medium size avalanche come over the top that was pretty impressive. There is one large cave opened up to the right when you enter the basin. It has already lost a large protion of the roof and looks to be ready to colapse.

Spent half a day shooting photos at Big Four. The trail is muddy in spots, but clear of snow all the way to the basin. Snow is the basin is still thigh deep in spots, but passable with care. During a four hour photo shoot I witnessed at least a dozen avalanches, so exercise some caution. On weekdays there are few people and excellent views.

There is minimal ice and snow on the trail. A few blowdowns just before the bridge but extensive work has already been done there. A few other minor blowdowns and solid snow only at the very end. Not as many avalanches coming down as expected, but a calm afternoon typical of the Casacades and a great hike. As usual during the week, the mountain loop highway was practically deserted.

This is the first time I've been on the this trails since the contractors began upgrading it. The new construction is very nice but I think perhaps they've gone a little over-board with all the yellow caution tape. There's lots of it strung all over the place along with the well placed signs warning of avalanche danger. There's compact snow and ice along most the trail. I reached the end of the trail in late afternoon after the sun had already set on the impressive northern wall of Big Four. There are no ice caves open.

My dog and I chose a nice day to go here. The road has about 3 inches of fresh snow but was otherwise clear. The parking lot is closed so you can only park on the highway. There were about 5 - 6 major blowdowns along the way which were easy to navigate. Although I wore snowshoes, they really weren't necessary. Except for a few slushy/muddy spots, the trail is completely covered in snow as are the caves.

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month... I rolled out of bed. Got to the big four ice caves picnic trailhead before 4 PM, the trail is generally in good condition--the 'accessibility' work (or whatever insanity it is) has removed all the steps on the trail, added a few new not-yet-open, bridges, and made a few sections much muddier than before. Oh, and a tree fell parallel to the trail, ripping out most of a short section.

Snow is melted all the way out in some places, and the caves are enormous, the mini-crevasses numerous. The furthest cave is the most spectacular. Waterfalls are partly frozen, but were also breaking off in cascades of ice.

Weather good - little too chilly for shorts standing right in front of the caves though. Ice caves still there - mountains looked great. Trail a little muddy in places. Some great work been done on the board walk part of the trail - kudos to the people who have worked on it this summer.

Lots of people ignoring the signs and going in. One small group inside trying to cause one to collapse - such a shame, spoiled the photographs of the best looking cave as well as putting themselves and others at risk.

Oh dear, trip number three this year for me up the strenuous big four ice caves trail. This time was the most crowded yet, it being a Saturday afternoon. The trail construction indicated earlier by signs at the base seems to be well under way--it appears that they're trying to make the whole trail wheelchair accessible, though it will still be quite a climb for a wheelchair. Lots of people around and in (!) the caves, I'd of love to have seen the look on people's faces when we heard the loud crack of something collapsing later in the day. (We were out of site of the main area at that time.)

Dry, unobstructed trails with high river views. Main cave was 5 feet tall with a good size stream emerging. Cascading waterfalls aplenty surrounding the glacier. Do not go in the caves! We were ticketed $5 for parking at the trailhead without a Trail Park Pass, but it was worth it.

Drove up towards Barlow Pass in search of the sun (clearly the grey skies have clouded my mind). Didn't find it, and the ice caves beckoned (come hither, where all is white...). Started out around 6PM from the basically empty picnic lot in the drizzle, encountered two other returning parties on the way up the wet but otherwise fine trail. Remarkably, on entering the basin, the rain stopped. What a spectacular site. Not much snow compared to last December, and no avalanches seen (may have heard one on the way up). There are ice caves a small child might be able to fit in if they ignored the forest service sign placed right at the snow's edge. Lots of waterfalls, birds, flowers. I counted at least 10 flower species, including lupine, bleeding heart, and some berries. After sitting for about half an hour, it started to drizzle again, and I returned to the road, itself lined with flowers, most notably foxglove.

This is somewhat of an interesting story. Last summer, my dad and I finally found something that we both enjoyed. For most of my life, we hadn't had much in common, but last summer we both fell in love with hiking. At first, he would have to practically drag me up Tiger Mountain. I mostly did it just because he or the Boy Scouts wanted to. Soon though, I began to get in a little better shape, and started enjoying hiking more. I eventually fell in love with it, not just as an activity to do with my dad, but as my favorite passtime. Dad and I started doing more and more hikes together. Our relationship had not been better in years.

Then, last August, we decided to go for a real challenge and we did the Enchantment Lakes. My dad is blind in one eye and has next to no depth perception. We knew this was a problem, but it was always Ok in the past as long as he went slow downhill and was very cautious. Unfortunatly, this time, halfway between Lake Vivian and Snow Lake, he picked the wrong place to have his knee give out. He fell foreword and ended up tumbling and falling, bouncing, and falling and tumbling to a stop just feet from Snow Creek which was in a waterfall. I was the only one with him and and I knew it was bad. He was bleeding a lot from his head and he couldn't move his arm enough to even get his backpack off. There was obviously something wrong with his leg. And he wasn't responsive at first. I was the only one with him and we were 8 difficult miles from the trailhead. An amazing set of miricles was what followed. They included a retired phsycotherapist from Holland, a ""ranger lady sent from heaven,"" and an Air Force Helicopter from Spokeane. Nevermind the exact string of events, we got dad and ourselves out before the night.

His injuries included a broken hip, shattered shoulder, a punctured lung, and even a broken femur. He wasn't even able to go home until late October. We were afraid he would never hike again, at least not anything like we used to do. I, however began to enjoy hiking more than ever, as is evidenced by my many reports over the last year on this website. As soon as I got my driver's liscence, I began to go hiking just about every weekend, even in winter. It was really great, but I was saddened that I couldn't do it with my father.

Over the winter months, dad slowly improved, and continues to improve. He went back to work in November and was back in the Boeing factory by late Winter. He could even walk without his cain by about two months ago. We began to regain hope that he maybe could hike again. We just had to wait for the snow to melt in an area that is worth hiking in.

Today, Saturday, May 27 we were both in a good mood in the morning and we decided to try it. I called up the Verlot Ranger Station to see if the Big Four Ice Caves Trail was free of snow yet (I went about half way up the trail in December and was astounded at the beauty despite the low elevation). They said it was snowfree so we decided to drive up there and check it out. It's really a pretty drive this time of year. Everything is just so green, it's incredible.

We got to the trailhead and there wasn't any snow so we decided to start walking. The trail starts off on a recently constructed boardwalk and paved area that didn't really give dad the authentic trail experience that he wanted. Soon, though, it turns into true trail with roots, rocks, and mud to deal with. The first tiny patches of snow were encountered just after the large bridge over the Stilliguamish River. We had no problem with this snow. The trail then gains some elevation, but it is delightfully over-engineered so we didn't have any problem. There were a couple large patches of snow just before the ice caves basin that dad had to go very slow over due to his leg injuries and lack of an eye. We made it into the basin and sat down on some rocks and had a coke.

I think it was then that we realized what we were doing. Dad hadn't been on a hike in nine months, in which he had felt like something less than a human being. This was very very symbolic for him, and was a great experience. I believe we both teared up a little bit. We didn't feel like we could stay long because the clouds seemed to be getting thicker (We never could quite see the top of Big Four Mountain. Almost...). So we started down. We actually made pretty good time and felt very good about what we had done when we got down just as it started to rain, and then pour. It was an incredible moment.

We got in the car and started home. We stopped at McDonalds in Clearview and stuffed ourselves full of terribly fattening food, a simple joy we had not experienced with each other after a hike since sometime early last August. Everything about this day seemed to be really symbolic, even this visit to McDonalds. I just realized that today is within two days of the one year anniversary of the first time we climbed Mt. Si together. This was the first time I had climbed a mountain that was really long and difficult. Before that, dad had dragged me up mountains. That day we were equal. The next time we went to Mt. Si, in August, I had surpassed him in strength. This day two years ago was a triumph of a different kind.

Dad is still making leaps and bounds in his recovery from his injuries, this is just one chapter. We are still hoping beyond hope that we will be able to do more difficult hikes together camping out. Maybe not this summer, but someday this will happen. I am confident of that now.

Note: this trail will be really easy for most people and can be enjoyed by the entire family, just know that the ice caves basin where we were can still be dangerous at this time of year. There is still plenty of snow to come sliding off the mountain, and especially on a warm day, I wouldn't go anywhere near the pile of snow (glacier') or anywhere that looks like it does see avalanches. The ice caves have not formed yet, that doesn't usually happen till July, but when they do form, don't go in them! People have died recently from caves collapsing on them.

Drove on Mt. Loop Hwy (530) to where road ends 12 miles past Verlot ranger station. Greeted by Snohomish Co. Sheriff truck and Search & Rescue vehicles unloading snomobiles-- always a good omen('). They headed up the road to parts unknown, while I walked two miles to the Big Four picnic area and the Ice Caves trailhead. Took a path that ran straight across a meadow towards Big Four Mtn looming above. The snow was hard and crusty enough to walk on for the next 1/2 mi. or so until after you crossed the South Fork Stillaguamish River bridge, where I donned snowshoes for the 1/2 mi or so gradual climb up to signs warning you not to proceed further due to extreme avalanche danger. The wide open area at the base of Big Four Mtn. is tempting to explore but I heeded the signs and had some lunch instead while it started to snow moderately. A couple of small slides way up the mtn's face entertained me while eating. The sheer face of rock just towers above you from this spot. Returned to car at 3:45p after starting at 11am, frequented by photo ops. Saw one party of 4 youths, 2 xc skiers on road, 2 snowmobilers all day-- very peaceable outing. Great winter hike, especially during the week.

A perfect day for a lowland walk. It started snowing just outside Granite Falls, and sticking within a few miles. Not one, but two snowplows were working New Year's Day, plowing all the way to Barlow Pass. It takes much longer to drive this road at 25 mph than my usual 55 mph. Four-wheel-drive was a huge bonus. One camper in the ditch, and finally the trailhead. We couldn't see the mountain because it was snowing as hard as I've ever seen. A foot of new was present. The brief trip to the edge of the basin below Big Four is always worthwhile. Here, the new snow was almost two feet deep. While the continued snowstorm kept us from seeing most of the mountain, the thunder of avalanches definitely entertained. Please do not venture beyond the sign that says ""Please do not venture beyond this sign, Severe Avalanche Danger"" The wind picked up on the way back, turning things cold. I was covered head to toe with snow when we got to the truck. A quick hike for those with spouses who get cold fast.

This is the first year I have done a significant amount of hiking (I am only 16). The dreary days of fall and early winter going to school had left me yearning for the forest. Now it's Christmas vacation and I have two weeks off. Gee, the weather has been unusually calm and clear over this vacation. What should I do' Head for the hills!

Today was the third time I have gone hiking over vacation (Tiger Mountain and Mt. Si last week) and I still want more. I headed off at about 9:30 am this morning to take in as much of the Mountain Loop Highway as I could. I would start by heading up to the trail to Big Four Ice Caves. The road started gettion frosty in the shade of trees just after Granite Falls. This didn't surprize me, but the frost kept getting thicker and thicker Until it was about an inch thick and coating everything aroud Big Four Picnic Area. I was also surprized to see 1-2 feet of snow at the Picnic Area. The access road was closed so I had to walk about a quarter mile extra over snow to get to the picnic area.

The view of the shady north face of Big Four Mountain is absolutly incredible in its layer of snow. I think I got some great pictures with frosty shrubs in the foreground. The trail (boardwalk) is completely covered in snow but is easy to follow because of the trench left by others. I am not used to hiking in hard (sometimes icy) snow so I slipped around quite a bit. I turned around where the trail started going uphill and I was slipping a lot. I think this was a little over half way to the ice caves. Anybody with any confidence and experience in the snow whatsoever could go further than I did. I was also worried about my dad's nice car that I had to park right next to the slippery highway. Oh well. I went back down the Mountain Loop Highway to the Lake 22 Trailhead hoping for better luck there.

What a difference a day makes! Arrived at the picnic area just when the sun theoretically set on Sunday and decided to go up to see the ice caves instead of attempting to drive to Darrington in the snow. The trail is in good condition except for the 0-4 inches of snow from the bottom to the top and occasional mud spots. Never seen the ice caves before, but it was quite awesome being in the large bowl with all the light reflected off the snow. We stayed well away from the caves and listened to and watched the avalanches for a few minutes before heading back through the dark woods. Reccomended, but may be buried in snow next week.

If you plan your hikes based on a ""breath-taking scenes per mile"" ratio, and don't want to hike to far, this trail is for you. The trail is only one mile long, the elevation gain a paltry 250 feet, but the end is magnificent; a firm snow field, ice caves, and the towering walls of Big Four.

There are a few drawbacks: 1) There are a couple of mud-holes on the trail; my definition of a mud-hole being ""any area of mud in which your shoes/boots had best be tied tightly, or they're staying behind"" 2) The parking lot is very slippery 3) There is a boardwalk leading from the ""Big Four Ice Caves"" trailhead to the junction with the ""Big Four Picnic Area"" trail; this boardwalk is slicker than a televangelist. Although there are signs that advise parking at the picnic area, and although the Ice Caves Trailhead parking area is closed, like a fool I parked at the gate. My advice - PARK AT THE PICNIC AREA, TAKE THE TRAIL FROM THERE. The trails are apparantly roughly the same distance from the junction. 4) The trail is just too darned short for me. But it was perfect for the kids! 5) The Ice Caves are at the bottom of an avalanche chute; probably not the safest place to spend an afternoon. And a special note for those with insufficient will-power; don't go! The caves whisper their siren-song, beconing all comers to explore their icy interior. Too dangerous say all the Forest Service signs.

The Perks: 1) With the exception of the icy boardwalk,two icy bridges (the bridges have hand rails), and two areas with mud-holes, the trail is in good shape. There is snow near the end, but it is not slick, well compacted, and the trail is well defined. 2) The trail progressively improves; first a short walk through forest, then the bridges over the South Fork Stillaguamish and an unnamed creek that drains from the snow field. About two-thirds of the way up, the trail re-crosses the unnamed creek at a point where it cascades from a narrow moss-laden chanel. Finally, of course, the entry to the snow-field; the Ice Caves are dwarfed by the walls of Big Four and Hall Peak. Prepare to spend five or ten awe struck minutes beneath these walls.

The weather on this day was ideal, sunny and ""warm"" for this time of year.

We started the Big 4 Ice Caves hike around 10:40am. The trail was easy to walk, and soon when we got to the ice caves there was nobody there. The ice caves were very interesting. We checked out the edge of some of the caves and went in there just a little. Then we further explored the area and walked to the last cave, where we could see that a big chunkc of ice had collapsed at the end of the cave (next to the rock). It was obviously dangerous to go in these caves.

The trailway is well packed, mostly by snowshoers, and easy to follow. The snow load on the bridges is incredible. The main bridge over the South Fork Stilliguamish is piled six feet above the top of the handrails. That's almost 10 feet of snow along the entire length of the bridge! The bridge is nearly 100 feet long and about 4 feet wide, so the total volume of snow on the bridge is about 4000 cubic feet. This is equal to 6,912,000 cubic inches, but one gallon is equal to 231 cubic inches so that's 29,922 gallons. Now water weighs about 8.3554 lbs/gallon at 4°C under one atmosphere (760 mm Hg), but since this is snow and not water the density is some what less because of air pockets. If we estimate the density to be about .6321 of water, then that's a total of 158,031.5 pounds or 79 tons. That's equal to 29.85 Chevy Suburban LT 4x4s. Golly!

I went to the Ice
caves on labor day, and it couldn't have been a more beautiful day. The trail is now open since the accident. The trail was perfect. The ice caves were much smaller than I had expected, and there was a small avalanche in the back of the caves over to the right when you are facing them. (the ones you have to walk over to) Please be careful if you go here, the caves are cracking and are ready to fall. Take care.

Driving past the
trailhead on the Mountain LoopHighway today, I noticed the parking lot is closed.Perhaps this is due to the fatality this past weekend. I recommend calling the Verlot Rangers to see if it's open.

If you go there, enjoy the caves from the outside.These caves collapse regularly and there have beenmany accidents and some fatalities over the years.

Suggested alternative hike: Barlow Point trail #709. This trail is1.2 miles long, a similar distance. But it climbs800' and gets moderately steep. Great views, however, and it's fairly short. To get there: drive past theIce Caves trail all the way up the Mt. Loop Hwyto Barlow Pass (where it changes to a gravel road).There is a large parking lot on the left side,and the trailhead is next to the parking lot. Many peoplehiking to Monte Cristo also park here. Enjoy!

Ice caves are
now starting to form! Ice cool breeze blowing out of the caves was really refreshing. Don't miss the far west end where you can walk up to the base of a waterfall - without traveling over the treacherous snow.

Trail has muddy sections
after river crossing due to ongoing trail work. No snow caves yet but lots of waterfalls.

The trail to the ice
caves is in great shape, but the ice caves haven't melted out yet. The huge avalanche fans are there, and worth a visit, though. The waterfalls are in prime condition.

[Online editors note: Huge avalanche fans' I didn't know avalanches wereso popular.]

Decided to head to the Big
Four ice caves (or what will be caves later this year) today. The gates to the parking lots (old and new) were still closed when we arrived and there were many cars parked along the highway. The trail had packed snow the whole way, except for the usual muddy spots about halfway to the clearing, and was just skinny enough to make hand holding nearly impossible. <flail> With only a couple of stumbles and slips, we made it to the clearing and continued up near the waterfall in the west corner where we stopped and absorbed the views (and listened for avalanches). There's really no straying from the thin trail without snowshoes or a strong desire for wet feet. No caves are open yet, and of course, you are strongly encouraged to stay out of them. I forgot my flashlight anyway. <grumble> Great company! and a good day for a hike. On the way out, we noticed the gate to the old parking lot had been opened.

Big Four is different every
time you make the trip. About 3 ft of snow on the first part of the trail and across the bridges. Light drizzle, 45 degrees, low clouds. Trail well traveled, no new snow. Stood on top of big rock, listened and watched for the avalanches. There were many!!!! Stood for nearly an hour while snow, ice and rocks calved off from high on the mountain and roared down the steep face. What a sight!!!!! With the small amount of snow this year staying on the trail ridge is very safe for watching this event. In other years when there is more snow this would not have been advised. Eight others on the trail. A very pleasant short trip.

The new trailhead parking lot
was closed because of icy conditions on the beginning part of the trail. The picnic area was open. The puncheon was frosty and very slippery. There were a few muddy spots on the trail. A 12-inch windfall is across the trail about 100 yards beyond the junction of the trails coming from the picnic area and from the new trailhead. The caves have retreated considerably. Ice blocks litter the front of the lower caves. There are large crevasses in the roof of the middle caves. The upper caves are completely open on top. There were deer and lynx tracks in one of the snow patches in front of the lower caves.