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Topic |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
86 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2006 : 7:13 PM
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| I want to do the ice caves (the ones by Moose Mountain) at a decent time...I was wondering when the latest and earliest in the season at which one can get to them, any advice? |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
241 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2006 : 08:36 AM
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You can walk in anytime. the road is now gated due to Shell's work in the area - several sour gas wells in that area now. Its about 5km into the ice cave area from the gate and parkinglot.
The ice cave is directly below the south west corner of Moose mountain so the more it has snowed the more the water will "leak" into the cave and freeze so its basically a weather watch kinda of deal.
quote:
Originally posted by Keltyc
I want to do the ice caves (the ones by Moose Mountain) at a decent time...I was wondering when the latest and earliest in the season at which one can get to them, any advice?
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2006 : 9:34 PM
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The caves themselves you can get into in any season. The get to part is just a funciton of how much snow there is on the ground. While it may snow over with the next big dump, I'll bet there's a dry period again in December - they're only some 700m above Calgary.
Having said that, allow a little advice-
DON'T GO IN THE FALL!!!!!
The cool thing about the ice caves is, of course, the ice. At this time of year, there is no ice. The time to go is late winter/early spring, when the ice has had a long time to form. The big ice plug doesn't go anywhere, but the column and the floor ice don't exist right now.
So as for earliest, I'd suggest anywhere after the beginning of May you'd be clear, but depending on the snowfall in a given year, it could be much earlier. Mostly depends on how much snow you're willing to trek through. :) |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
86 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2006 : 7:28 PM
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Sweet, thanks!
I'm trying to find some good early season hikes to geet noobs hooked on hiking (Yamnuska was a bit much for some...heh heh). I dunno if ice caves will fit that bill or not... |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2006 : 8:27 PM
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| For early season, it'd be perfect. For getting hikers interested... I guess it depends on whether they prefer caves or lakes or summits or flowers. |
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Canmore, AB
Canada
1238 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2006 : 9:40 PM
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Hi,
I was just at the caves today.
The access road was partially iced up when my friend and I arrived at the parking lot at 9am but it wasn't too bad on a mountain bike.
Thanks to the south facing slope to the cave entrance, the entire face was free of snow once we got above the the tree line. The hike in was fairly uneventful and short.
Oh yeah, we encountered a large group of students from Mount Royal College while we were sitting in the cave. It was kind of weird seeing all these people emerge from the darkness... |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2006 : 08:43 AM
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| ^oooh, a newbie! Welcome. and very cool website! |
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Canmore, AB
Canada
1238 Posts |
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High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1703 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2006 : 6:00 PM
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| Great photos spicytuna, especially those ice formations on the floor of the cave. I've only been there once and that was wrangling a group of Scouts... we went as far as what you call the tourist area and since we're supposed to bring back all the kids we start out with we ended it there. Gave them the experience of being in a cave though. I liked the ledge at the entrance, great place to warm up in the sun if it's a cooler day. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2006 : 8:09 PM
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| Wow!, neat blobby formations. I've never seen those. Was the big ice pillar there? |
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Calgary, AB
Canada
252 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2006 : 8:26 PM
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Interesting pics spicytuna.  It's been a while since I've been in the caves. The road to the ice caves was open then. Looks like your group have a fun adventure! Another reason I need to get a mtn bike. |
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Canmore, AB
Canada
1238 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2006 : 09:02 AM
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Thanks for the comments !
The road to the ice cave is always open... to hikers and cyclists. It wouldn't be too bad on foot but it'd take you over an hour each way.
There weren't any ice pillars yet but we did find some interesting spheres of ice scattered all over the floor. They were planted to the ground and resembled those glass spheres you find in gift shops with the "snow" inside. My guess is that these spheres will eventually rise up and become ice stalagmites or ice columns within the weeks to come. Here's one of those spheres :
http://www.takabe.ca/images/iceglobe.jpg
Luckily for us, the ascent to the cave entrance is on a south face so it should be easy to access in the months to come. (At least during a long chinook.) I'll have to return in a few weeks.  |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
86 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2006 : 5:22 PM
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| Whoa, awesome photos spicytuna! Man, I want to go sooner rather than later now...must get headlamp.... |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2006 : 10:02 PM
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The first time I was there was in October, and there was no ice to speak of. Thus my suggestions regarding timing. By the end of the winter there is quite a pillar built up, but the little things now are very neat, and apparently not around by the end. I'll keep it in mind to hit over the winter. (If I am ever released to having a free afternoon).
Ice column.
(Lacking an appropriate bike, I've walked to the caves both times. Took right about an hour each way.) |
Edited by - Rachelo on 11/23/2006 10:03 PM |
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Canmore, AB
Canada
1238 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2006 : 11:27 AM
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Nice picture of the pillar !
I'll have to bring my ice climbing gear into that cave next time so I can claim a first ascent. |
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Canmore, AB
Canada
1238 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2007 : 08:32 AM
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Hiked into the ice cave on Saturday to check out the ice formations at this time of year.
Found a pair of pillars about 50m into the cave.
Also found some interesting sculptures.
 
Went all the way to the back where it ends in a tall and narrow passage but didn't see any signs of ice back there. |
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362 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2007 : 3:07 PM
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| Really interesting ice formations! |
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13465 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2007 : 7:35 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Bluespruce
Really interesting ice formations!
Those are the neatest things, totally alien looking.
Regards, |
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Topic |
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Ice Caves - Advice?
