avalanches?

[bolt_clipper]

I'm heading up the Big Four caves tomorrow. What's the likelyhood of dangerous avalanche conditions?

[allthumbs]

Pretty damn good

[thelawgoddess]

i was there on thursday. i don't think there's much danger of avalanches if you're talking about stuff falling off of the mountain onto the cones already at the base. it was warm, though, so even though it was raining outside it was much wetter inside the caves. i didn't spend much time inside them - they're pretty freaky, not to mention wet, ... and the ice in there seemed pretty brittle. if it stays above freezing i definitely wouldn't go spelunking around in there if you know what i mean. the danger of caves collapsing is not worth that risk! if you just want to tool around, though, there are some vertical walls that extend beyond the roof of the big cave on the rightmost debris cone (as you're looking at big four). you can traverse around on those walls to your heart's content. they're textured, too, (with big vertical suncup-like features) so you can make it as hard or easy as you like. park at the picnic area 'cause the trailhead lot is closed. and have fun - the ice on those walls was damned near perfect when i was there.

[Lambone]

Had a fun time out there today. No snow to speak of. Mabye above 5,00ft or so.

 

There are some fun steep lines to be had for sure, super pumpy.

 

[ 11-23-2002, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: Lambone ]

[sobo]

quote:

---

Originally posted by bolt clipper:

I'm heading up the Big Four caves tomorrow. What's the likelyhood of dangerous avalanche conditions?

---

Can someone enlighten me as to where the Big Four Caves are? I haven't heard of these. It appears that they contain ice climbing, yes? TIA

 

...sobo

[eric8]

There have already been several threads disguisting this. But anyway they are located off mountain loop highway, near the mount dickerman trail head. I would say they are more like firm snow then ice but are still fun.

[sobo]

Welllll, that sorta helps a bit. WA or BC?

 

No wait, I'll do a search. thanks

[Lambone]

Do a google search, plenty of info out there. It was definatly blue ice in places, but alot of firm snow as well.

[sobo]

Thanks, Alex.

 

That's exactly the kind of beta I was looking for. With that little piece of info, I was able to locate B4 Mtn on the WSDOT road map within 15 seconds of unfolding it.

 

...sobo

 

[ 11-26-2002, 02:09 PM: Message edited by: sobo ]

[Lambone]

http://www.nwog.org/reports/120901big4ice.htm

 

Gaper TR with a bit of usefull information.

 

[ 11-26-2002, 03:13 PM: Message edited by: Lambone ]

[Alex]

mt dickerman and mnt loop highway are in Washington. get to Granite Falls, head east.

 

Alex