Ice Caves, Exploring Dirt Roads and Frog Blog 6-2-13

It was a mostly sunny 2nd day of June, and Dave and I decided to do a small hike (walk) to the Ice Caves.  We took Adventure Dog and headed up the Mountain Loop Highway.  It was beautiful sunshine and warm even up in the hills!

 

The packed snow and ice had not yet melted out into their cave formations, but the rugged cliffs and waterfalls are breathtaking.  We did hear an avalanche far up there, but never saw any debris fall.  What an ominous sound!

 

 

There were misty clouds sitting over the Ice Caves, but behind us, the clouds were darker.  This picture of the stormier weather over the top of these avalanche-ravaged trees was very powerful.

 

Despite all the snow, it was definitely spring.  Trillium were in bloom all over.

 

And in the ponds along the board walk were frogs, frogs, FROGS!  : ) 

 

After we got back to the car we decided to see if the Mountain Loop Highway was open all the way through to Darrington.  It was!  So we were just going to drive around that, but the curiosity that had us turning off that road to look at a boat launch, had us taking a meandering single-track dirt road an extra 16 miles toward Darrington.  I had no idea it was even there, and it was a fun adventure.  At first I was thinking maybe I should have a 4x4, but this log across the road was only high up enough on one side to let a car through. 

 

 

Along the way we stopped to look at these flowers, and it turned out they were more like seeds- similar to dandelion or thistle.  I'm not sure what they are... anyone out there know?

 

We stopped on a narrow bridge and got some pictures of the stream far far below.  We only saw one other vehicle on the whole road, which was nice.  Whenever we stopped to get out, the only sounds were the birds and the breeze. 

 

When we finally came around the mountain we had been driving around, the trees opened up onto this incredible view of the Sauk River.  What a reward for deciding to explore a little! 

 

At the end of the day we had a bite to eat at The Oxford in Snohomish.  The food was delicious and I enjoyed the Angry Orchard Cider as well.  What a great day!