Home»All Photographs»2020 Hikes»Canyon Creek Ice Cave 08-17-20

The two of us went to check out a cave we've been hearing about but haven't had the chance to go together - so this was the day!
The outing to the Canyon Creek Ice Caves starts with a pleasant bike ride down a gas-well road. Apparently this road has been closed to vehicles for over a decade now, owing to the numerous injuries and rescues incurred when you make a site like this too easy to get to.
After the bike ride, we stashed our steeds in the thick bush and strapped on our hiking boots. The hike to the cave entrance is short but steep. A final rocky bit lands you at a behemoth entrance to a cave, that extends quite some distance into the mountain.
The temperature dropped quickly from low 30's to high teens. We put on helmets and headlamps, and I had a powerful flashlight in hand too.
At about the point when light from the entrance was fading and not light enough to see by, we noticed ice underfoot - although it wasn't too slippery with the dirt and grit on it. Rather than just packed dirt, large puddles and large, awkward boulders characterized the first completely dark section.
A few metres farther, impressive ice towers connected the ceiling of the cave to the ground. Shining our flashlight on them from behind gave a cool effect. Further on, we reached an ice plug that blocks any deeper exploration of the cave. At this point, the cave maintains a steady temperature of about 4 degrees Celsius all year round. We put on our sweaters for the hike out, and eased our way along, back over the ice and rocks.
We had a tasty lunch back at the mouth of the cave, where a noisy raven staked his claim to this land. We hiked back to the bikes and started the pedal back. Megan kept a fierce pace here and the downhill sections were fast, fun riding on a wide gravel road. It's definitely a ride that leaves you with a smile on your face when you get back to the trailhead. We capped it all off with a couple of pints at a saloon in Bragg Ceeek.