Trip Date: February 20, 2009
Big Four Mountain Climbing Attempt
Big Four Picnic Area
Dry Creek Basin
Big Four Mountain (6160’+) attempt
Trip Report Summary
Region: North-Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: South Stillaguamish Mountains
Area: Mt. Baker – Snoqualmie National Forest
Starting & Ending Point: Deer Creek Sno-Park on Mountain Loop Highway (Elev. 1600 feet)
Way Points: Coal Creek culvert & Beaver Creek culvert & Big Four Picnic Area (road walk); South Fork Stillaguamish River crossing & Dry Creek Basin (snow hike & bushwhack)
Summit Attempt: Big Four Mountain (snow climb to 4150-foot level in Dry Creek Couloir )
Approximate Stats: 10 miles traveled; 2900 feet gained & lost; 4.3 hours up; 3.5 hours down.
Related Posts
Big Four Mtn Attempt via Dry Creek Couloir – June 6, 2011
Big Four Mtn Attempt via Dry Creek Couloir – June 3, 2000
Full Trip Report
I made another attempt on Big Four Mountain via Dry Creek Couloir with Mike T, Fay, and Matt. From my perspective, this big, intimidating monolith earns its notoriety. We had great weather but unsavory snow conditions.
Starting at the Deer Creek Sno-Park, we walked up the snow-covered road to Big Four Picnic Area and crossed the Stillaguamish River on a fallen log. The huge north face of Big Four Mountain loomed ahead, giving us all internal shivers.
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Once across, we walked southeasterly through forest for a mile to Dry Creek, then headed upward through the lower basin and through a hidden snow chute to reach the upper basin. We made a rising snowshoe traverse to the south until directly below Dry Creek (Northeast) Couloir.
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Seeing several natural avalanches in the couloir, I elected to dig a test pit. The findings were not encouraging: fresh snow over breakable crust over deep sugar snow. After a group confabulation, we reluctantly decided to retreat, retracing our route back to the river crossing.
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This was my second turn-back on the Dry Creek route at mid-face. Can we at least consider it a successful climb of “Big Two” Mountain? Anyway, I’m now thinking that it might never be truly “in season.” On a positive note, I did get 50 feet past my previous high point.
Route Map
Photo Gallery
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