It was a hot day, so I did a solo hike to the ice caves at the base of Big Four (6135 ft). I'd been warned the bridge was out, and they weren't kidding; the middle section was washed out during one of our winter storms this year. I managed to cross on a fallen log (I'd brought some sandals along in case I needed to wade across on the rocks; turned out to be unnecessary), and made the rest of the hike without incident.
A little bit creepy up there all by myself. This is usually a busy trail.
The snowfield at the base of Big Four is the lowest (around 2,000ft) in the lower 48 states. It is sheltered by the steep north face of the mountain and fed by avalanches throughout the year. It's very dangerous to stand here at certain times of the year, and is not completely safe at any time.
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 | So you're just supposed to look at them? |
| Is that a running waterfall or is it frozen? |
| That's awesome! How is the entrance to the cave formed? Is it natural or man made? |
 | jvon wrote on Aug 15, '07  So you're just supposed to look at them?  Yeah. And not too close. :)
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| jvon wrote on Aug 15, '07 Is that a running waterfall or is it frozen? It's running. The whole side of the mountain is covered in waterfalls this time of year as the snow melts off. During the winter and spring there are huge avalanches on a daily basis. I've been up there when it happens, it's freaky -- it looks like powdered sugar going down the side of the mountain (because it's so far away... if you are lucky) and then the noise hits you and it sounds like a jet going overhead. It's hard to grasp the scale involved.
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| jvon wrote on Aug 15, '07 How is the entrance to the cave formed? Is it natural or man made? Two things; first, the meltwater coming down the side of the mountain makes a tunnel underneath it, then air is drawn down through the tunnel by convection, which enlarges the tunnel. Eventually it will collapse (hopefully when no one is nearby) and form a new tunnel.
There is a continuous wind of 20-30mph coming out of the mouth of the cave, and the temperature standing right in front of it is probably around 40 degrees. Like I said it was a hot day yesterday; I'd guess standing anywhere but right in front of the cave it was 70-75 degrees even up in the mountains.
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| jvon wrote on Aug 15, '07 That would be super scary! Well, it would have been if I was close enough to be at any risk of getting hit by it. I wasn't though. It did make me stop and turn around. It's the sort of thing you don't want to see close up.
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| It turns out they have no idea how the guys got over there or why they were stuck. Journalism at its finest! ;) The were getting in touch with the county sheriff's department to find out. They will have a story about it in the paper tomorrow.
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| Now that didn't surprise me at all. Lots of people just go out for a quick day hike unprepared...because they never think it will happen to them. I don't usually hike long distances at all, so I definitely fall into that category...and would feel like a total idiot if I got stuck in the wilderness overnight from my own stupidity. |
| That's usually when it happens, when you don't think it will. You have to carry it every time... or go with someone who is more paranoid than you are. ;)
Generally:
Extra clothing
Water
Food
First-aid kit
Knife
Matches
Firestarter
Map
Compass
Flashlight or headlamp
I also carry a cellphone, GPS, sunglasses, paper towels, water purification kit, extra bootlaces, and (often) a gun. I have needed all of these things at least once.
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 | Awesome pics Jay, where is this at? |
| jvon wrote on Oct 25, '07 This is on the Mountain Loop Highway east of Granite Falls WA. (Which is east of Naval Station Everett -- Mt. Pilchuck, the next mountain over, is visible from the base I believe.)
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| Have only been to the base as it was brand new, like ten or fifteen years ago, but would be great to get back there sometime. |
| jvon wrote on Oct 25, '07 I think you'd be amazed how much this area (Seattle in general I mean, but Everett too) has built up.
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| I don't doubt that one bit and some day I'll get to see that. |
| jvon wrote on Oct 25, '07 Well by the time you do, hopefully they'll have that bridge to the Ice Caves repaired. If not you still may be able to cross depending on the time of year. It would probably take you about 45 minutes to drive there from base. Pretty drive though.
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| cool, literally, lol
Thanks man. |
| you'd think they could build a stronger bridge. |
| perhaps a higher bridge, or one like the old Tacoma Narrows, you know, FLEXIBLE.
oh wait, maybe they did . |
| jvon wrote on Oct 26, '07 you'd think they could build a stronger bridge. Actually the way these rivers rage during floods, they probably can't build one strong enough to withstand it. Higher, maybe. Or just cheaper -- do a rope bridge. It would scare people and cut down on the number of people who used it, but I'd be OK with that.
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