Big Four Ice Caves, 2022

 

 

 

 

Big Four Mountain with a dusting of snow

We had not been to the Big Four Ice Caves for a few years.  The trail has been closed because the bridge crossing the Stillaguamish River had washed out and not been repaired.  This is an easy, short hike, with long board walks across wetlands and swamps and a well kept trail in between with a mostly gravel surface.  

 

Boardwalks through swamps and wetlands

Reflections in the small ponds made for pretty pictures

The repaired bridge

 

 

The Stillaguamish River from the new bridge
 

Bob checked to see if the the trail was once again open.  We stopped at the Verlot Ranger Station to make sure the bridge was fixed and to ask if the restrooms at Big Four were open since it is getting late in the hiking season and some of the outhouses are locked until Spring.  We were told that the main restroom at the picnic area had been the victim of an arsonist but the outhouse at the larger lot was open.  There is a nice meadow trail from the larger lot to the picnic area which makes this short hike a little longer.  The round trip hike is a slightly more than 2 miles with a vertical gain of about 300 ft.  Children can easily do this hike and we saw several children there.  The downed trees had all been cut and the trail was in perfect condition.  The day we went it was cold, with some sun and also clouds but no rain or snow.

Fall foliage along the trail, almost to the ice caves

Fall color along the trail and on the hillsides

 

There are small ponds like this one along parts of the boardwalks

There was a lot of fall color on the hillsides and along the trail.  We did not encounter too many people on the way to the caves, maybe because we started early, but by the end of the day there were lots people and dogs.  

 

The big warning sign by the picnic area

A couple of the cracks in the surface of the snow and ice can easily been seen

 

The run off water from above comes down behind the accumulated snow and ice and flows under it melting and creating the cave openings.  This time there were only two openings but sometimes there are three or four openings. 

People wanting to get a closer look or take pictures are also taking a big risk getting this close

Signs warning of the dangers of getting too close to the caves are well posted at the picnic area and near the caves.  Hikers are supposed to stay on the trail but many do not.  Some even venture into the caves.  We stayed on the trail, used zoom lens to take some pictures and could see big cracks in the ice/snow.  That did not stop of lot of people from going off trail and some going inside the caves despite the various warnings. 

 

Total for the day:  105 hikers, 22 dogs.