bobspirko.ca | Home | Canada Trips | US Trips | Hiking | Snowshoeing | MAP | About
The Promised Land
Crowsnest Pass, Alberta
October 16, 2002
Distance: 9.5 km (5.9 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 835 m (2754 ft)
The Promised Land is a tortured landscape replete with numerous caves. We wanted to explore the smaller caves but the two large, famous caves, Gargantuan and Cleft, are beyond our capability. In fact, the previous week found a group of cavers stranded for 27 hours in Gargantuan Cave.
Rather than hike up the 6 km road that follows Ptolemy Creek to end at a campground, Wayne, Lori, Dinah and I covered most of approach in Wayne's truck. The road wasn't even fit for a 4x4 vehicle, so it's a wonder we didn't get stuck. We drove 5 km before stopping, but the truck was scratched from the thick roadside vegetation.
After leaving the truck, we hiked up the trail to a pass and descended to the Andy Good Plateau. We explored a few caves, but snow prevented us from taking a closer look at most of them and the short day didn't allow us much time to look around.
Our venture into the Promised Land was short, but what we saw looked promising for a return visit!
Looking back at the valley and the road we drove up
Gargantuan Cave above the tall tree on far left
The walls were too steep to drop down here to this cave but we
were able to reach it from another entrance (mouse over) a couple dozen metres away.
This photo and the following two photos shows us exploring the cave
Checking out another cave
The trail (far right skyline) leads to a pass over the Continental
Divide. Near the centre is Cleft Cave (mouse over).
Hiking to the pass
On the pass
Dropping down the other side of the pass
Looking back at the pass
Gazing at a plateau below (mouse over)
Skirting a snow-filled opening
Investigating a short cave
Heading back over the pass
82 G/10 Crowsnest