Ice caves vanish on WA highway as Rainier snowfield opens up

The Big Four Ice Caves along Washington's Mountain Loop Highway have completely collapsed. An October trail report posted to the Washington Trails Association website confirms the structural failure. A recent site visit by FOX 13 Seattle found a pile of dripping snow where the caverns once stood. No cave remains.

Tacoma mountaineer Darren Chromey discovered similar changes on Mount Rainier this week. Hiking the Muir Snowfield in autumn, he found holes opening in both the snow and the ice. As he descended toward Paradise from Camp Muir, he heard water roaring beneath his feet.

"The way that the snow has melted this year is unbelievable, especially in September and October," Chromey said. He described the water moving under the surface as a distinct roar.

Guillaume Mauger, the Washington State Climatologist, attributes these changes to a pattern of warm and dry seasons. He noted that much of the year has run hot. Mauger explained that several dry summers in a row can have cumulative effects on glaciers.

"There are long-term consequences that can add up in some places," Mauger said. He cautioned that the damage from repeated warm, dry conditions extends beyond a single season.

Forecasters predict a Super El Niño for the coming months. Mauger said the odds favor a warmer winter, though the phenomenon does not perfectly predict seasonal outcomes. Climate models also point toward a drier November and December.

The state climatologist said he is not losing hope but remains focused on the data. The current dry start to fall has drawn attention to the physical state of the mountain infrastructure and natural formations.