Yes, that is a cool hike. Probably one of the best hikes in the area.
For extra-credit-level coolness, the cave is actually navigable, and you come out a different place than you went in. From what I've heard, it requires some serious skills (ropes, swimming, etc.), and some tight squeezes. It's also a multi-day trip, if the report I heard was accurate.
Yes, the guide I have describes the connection to Ice Cave as “the only known opportunity to go caving in your wetsuit, vertical gear and crampons SIMULTANEOUSLY.”
I left my wetsuit in my closet at home, and my vertical gear really belongs to the VFD. Even if I had it, though, the cramped space might rule me out. It’s hard to fit my shoulders through even many ordinary spaces.
When I heard about it the first time, it sounded like a cool adventure; but I quickly decided it would never (not even in more adventurous younger days) have quite been my cup of tea.
I might be up for a really gnarly wet, climbing, and squeezey cave trip, if it wasn't much longer than about 12-15 hours.
Or, I might be up for a multi-day trip in the dark, if it was mostly dry and not too cramped.
But put it all together, and I'll just find something else to do instead.
That's gorgeous, and does seem a bit 'otherworldly' for the Mountain West- something about the geology is a little different, beyond the cool water-flowing-out-the-mouth-of-the-cave thing.
6 comments:
Yes, that is a cool hike. Probably one of the best hikes in the area.
For extra-credit-level coolness, the cave is actually navigable, and you come out a different place than you went in. From what I've heard, it requires some serious skills (ropes, swimming, etc.), and some tight squeezes. It's also a multi-day trip, if the report I heard was accurate.
Yes, the guide I have describes the connection to Ice Cave as “the only known opportunity to go caving in your wetsuit, vertical gear and crampons SIMULTANEOUSLY.”
I left my wetsuit in my closet at home, and my vertical gear really belongs to the VFD. Even if I had it, though, the cramped space might rule me out. It’s hard to fit my shoulders through even many ordinary spaces.
When I heard about it the first time, it sounded like a cool adventure; but I quickly decided it would never (not even in more adventurous younger days) have quite been my cup of tea.
I might be up for a really gnarly wet, climbing, and squeezey cave trip, if it wasn't much longer than about 12-15 hours.
Or, I might be up for a multi-day trip in the dark, if it was mostly dry and not too cramped.
But put it all together, and I'll just find something else to do instead.
I know, I'm as finicky as Morris the cat.
Looks beautiful. The cave sounds cool, whether you hike it or not.
That's gorgeous, and does seem a bit 'otherworldly' for the Mountain West- something about the geology is a little different, beyond the cool water-flowing-out-the-mouth-of-the-cave thing.
The back door to to the Mines of Moria?
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