[Andrew]

Earlier today, I drove there with my friend. We passed a couple of work crews after Granite Falls. I guess they were surveying some new landslides. The road was open with a few slushy areas. The entrance to the trailhead was mid-calf deep, so we parked right besides the road after getting the Nissan stuck. We only went halfway through the trail because the weather wasn't all that great. Plus, we came to take pictures and the first half satisfied that. There were two groups of two people who passed us. The trail had lots of snow, some of it packed, most others not. My new gore-tex boots really helped. However, there were a few times when I wandered off trail and I fell into the snow just above my knees. IT really woke me up . All in all I had fun, but be prepared. Lots of snow and pelting rain. I should have pictures soon.

[Andrew]

Well, I went back today. This time I went all the way to the ice caves. It was a beautiful day, not a cloud in sight! I suppose the rain that accumulated on the snow the previous days froze over, hence why the snow was hard and easily walkable. I had a much better time walking around the snow. The temperature was pretty nippy, enough for me to keep my coat on and gloves as much as possible. There were three other parties that we came across along our journey. I took about twenty pictures, all on Fuji Velvia slide film, so I don't know how to get them on here. In case you're going, be sure to go off trail once it opens up with the view of what was the ice caves, but is now filled over. There are a couple of small tarns to the left of Big 4 mountain. You can easily see it from the trail. Overall, an immensely more enjoyable time then two days ago!