Big Four Ice Caves post Dickerman Mtn hike.

  You could go to the Big Four Ice Caves several times a year and it would be different every time that you go view the majestic surroundings.  I have been here probably five times and each time I am amazed at what is in front of my eyes.  A mere 1.1 mile hike on a superb trail to the start of the Ice Caves, ever changing and growing caves throughout the summer makes this a perfect post-hike, hike! Indeed this is a very popular destination for any age because of the short, very easy hiking distance, and the stunning beauty that is waiting.
  Big Four Mountain elevation 6160 ft and the north face of the mountain raises past 4000 ft. No wonder this is a majestic place!
  Check out my Dickerman Mountain blog post for arial views of the Big Four Mountain and the Ice Caves!
  Here are a few quick links to Big Four Mountain and Big Four Ice Caves...
  SummitPost.Org  http://www.summitpost.org/big-four-mountain/152569
"The ice caves have been a tourist trap for years. An inn was even built at where the present Big Four viewpoint is located. The caves have melted back quite a bit over the years but they are still worthy of a visit (especially since the approach trail is short). What are the ice caves, then? Essentially, there is an avalanche debris cone that forms (or has formed over the centuries) at the base of the North Face. This cone is known as "Rucker's Glacier." Waterfalls plummeting down the face enter at the back of the cone and subsequently flow under it. The water eventually exits at the base of the cone in a series of streams. The combination of ground surface heating characteristics and air flow has excavated large tunnels under the base of the cone. To enter these tunnels is quite dangerous (people have been killed when caves collapse), but they are pretty interesting...The mountain does not take its name from the knuckles on its summit crest (there are actually five knuckles). Instead, it apparently got its name from the giant "4-shaped" snowpatch on the East Face. SummitPost.org
 Washington Trails Association website http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/big-four-ice-caves

Big Four Mountain and several streams of glacier melt.

Miss Lucy waiting patiently on a perfectly groomed trail.

"Rucker's Glacier"

Rucker's Glacier and the 4000ft+ north face of Big Four.

One of many waterfalls!

Recently collapsed snow arch.

Miss Lucy!!!

Close-up of rock hard snow/ice.

Furthest Ice Cave to the right of trail. Beautiful! Cave itself around 20' high, 25' wide.

Since, this is the "furthest" from the trail, not as many people want to put in the extra effort to view this gem.
Best of all of the caves.

Cold air blast standing in front of the cave openings! Feels great on a hot day.

Beautiful color. 

A downpour started on our way back to the car. We both needed to clean up after a long day on the trails!
Felt great!  Although the pic is from my car.

Miss Lucy is one done tired girl after a great day!

Until next time my friends...
Adventure On!!!