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Hike 1/27 Big Four Picnic Area & Ice Caves
The closure gate on the Mountain Loop Highway just beyond Silverton
Walking on a couple inches of snow on the highway, under the east peak of Long Mountain.
Much of the way is alongside the South Fork Stillaguamish River, which provided a soothing soundtrack
The dry, cold weather recently has produced fascinating hoar frost formations on undisturbed surfaces.
On the way toward big Four under partly sunny skies
Some of the hoar frost crystals were two inches or more in size
Roadside chunks of snow looked fuzzy with the hoar frost on them
Frost formations also clung to clumps of grass in the roadside wetlands
Approaching the turnoff to the picnic area, 2 miles from the start.
Taking a break at the picnic shelter, scene of many meals on trips I've led over the years.
Picnic tables near the shelter show the foot or so of snow depth in the area.
A cluster of curious stellar jays stood by, hoping for a few crumbs leftover after lunch.
The fading light of the sun through high clouds over Big Four Mountain.
On the first portion of the Ice Caves Trail, headed toward Big Four Mountain.
Forested portion of Ice Caves Trail
Crossing the Stillaguamish River
At the end of the trail. The foreshortened perspective makes it impossible to capture the scale of things
Panning across the huge north face of Big Four
Mount Dickerman, looking like a featureless wooded hike that no one would want to hike up.
By the way, ever wonder why it's called Big Four? Here's an old photo taken somewhere near Monte Cristo showing the southeast side of the mountain.
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