Replying to Winter descent of local peak...

So... I am going home from college on Friday and will hit up Stevens on my way home. Probably will go back up again on saturday as well. But I got to thinking... I have always wanted to hike local mountains in the winter and ski them. My first thought was Pilchuck but I know the gate is closed due to heavy snow on the roadway. Any other possible spots off the mountain loop highway? I climbed Dickerman last summer and that was a blast, there was a ton of snow even in the summer. I would love to do that, get a start at like 5am in order to get most of the way up to the clearing have some fun up there on my skis with a buddy or something. My only concern is SOOOO much snow that I cant even get out of the switchbacks that back their way through the trees up to the alpine clearing. The weather is looking kinda gloomy for monday-wednesday, which is when I wanted to do this.

Should I hold off on this? I dont have skinning gear or anything, I was gonna strap my skis on my backpack and do it the old fashioned way. Stupid probably, but I really want to experience skiing in a pristine environment when I know just how hard I worked to get there. Not to mention get some amazing shots of the region in winter, I have only been hiking up there in the summer.

What about the ice caves off the mountain loop highway? Has anybody ever gone up there in winter? I havent been there since I was a little kid, the bridge was wiped out last Memorial Day when I tried to hike it.