ICE
CAVES, BIG FOUR MOUNTAIN, near Silverton, WA
October 12, 2002
October seems like the perfect time to visit the Ices Caves at the base
of Big Four Mountain. The one-mile trail to the Caves is free of snow
and ice, and the autumn colors are abound. You can either begin from the
Big Four Campground or Ice Caves parking lot. The distance to the caves
is equal from either place, but the view of the Big Four is better from
the Campground. If you don't have a valid Northwest Forest Pass, you will
need to pay five bucks. If you don't pay five bucks and park there and
get caught, you will have to pay a five-dollar fine... Huh? You will cross
the South Fork Stillaguamish River over a bridge, and the trail winds
up to the base of the mountain with very little elevation, so the hike
is a pleasant one for anyone (only after the thaw; so is the reason why
I say October is the best time). At the mountain base is a gigantic pile
of snow in the shape of a pyramid. During the summer months, warm winds
enter this heap of ice at the top and meander to the base, forming a network
of caves. It's not advised to enter these caves, and warning signs are
posted. If you hike to the right corner of the base (in the course which
you get a nice vantage point of the ice caves) the cave entrances get
much bigger and "look" safer to venture in. You certainly get
to see some nice patterns of the wind-chiseled walls. The last photo on
this page of Big Four Mountain was taken from the Campground. As you can
see, there are actually five peaks. So why is it called Big Four? Well,
yas yas, you see... In Spring, the snow melts on the the mountain except
along some of the ridges and crevices, leaving behind the shape of number
"4".
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