GRANITE FALLS, WA - Police are warning that one of the most popular hikes in Western Washington should not be attempted by unprepared beginners. The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office has enacted four rescues on Mount Pilchuck over the last week. Hikers are getting stranded above the snowline, not realizing that the snowpack is exceptionally deep this spring, according the sheriff's office.

"A late spring meltout and heavy winter snow pack on the mountain has made the trail up Mt. Pilchuck slippery and very hard to navigate," said Sgt. Danny Wikstrom, of the county's search-and-rescue team, said. "All of our recent rescue missions to Mt. Pilchuck have been above the snowline and three of them involved persons not dressed or equipped for the conditions on the mountain."

At least one of the rescues was due to risky behavior. Search and rescue crews were called to the mountain on June 8 after a woman broke her ankle while glissading - the practice of free-sliding through a snow field.

Here's a rundown of the other rescues, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office: June 11 - SAR received a report around 5 p.m. that a 19 year-old male broke through the snow, fell and dislocated his shoulder. The male was unable to move and he was transported by helicopter to the Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue facility around 9 p.m. and then transported by private vehicle for medical treatment.

June 11 - While responding to the injured 19 year-old male, SAR received a call that there was a 27 year-old male who had become lost. Rescue crews searched the area by air and ground, but were unable to locate the missing man. Several hours later, the man made it back to the trailhead on his own. He was cold and wet, but uninjured. June 12 - A 20 year-old woman became separated from her hiking partner and called 911 around 6 p.m. She was about 400 yards off-trail on a dangerous snow slope. Due to conditions and nightfall, SAR personnel and volunteers deployed ground rescue teams. She was safely escorted back to the trailhead just before midnight. She was treated for mild hypothermia. She was extremely fortunate to have cellphone coverage in that area.