Powderface Ridge Earthcache EarthCache
Powderface Ridge Earthcache
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The posted coordinates are on the Powderface Ridge trail in the Kananaskis country Forestry Land Use Zone southwest of Bragg Creek. From this spot on the trail you will have a great view of a large glacial erratic and one other interesting feature.
Powderface Ridge is one of the more strenuous hiking trails west of Bragg Creek and Elbow Falls. The last 9 km of hwy 66 are closed from Dec 1 – May 14 each winter.
Parking is available at the north end, south end or approximately at the mid-point of the trail. We suggest that this earthcache is best accessed the south end of the trail, at the junction of hwy 66 and Powderface Trail gravel road - N 50 48.305 W 114 50.540. There is parking for about 10 vehicles 150 meters or so to the west. You could also park at the mid-point parking and hike down to the erratic from the top. For the mid-point parking and trail directions, see BVPETE’s Powderface Ridge GCXZ6P.
East of the trail at the posted coordinates is a large quartzite erratic. We confirmed with one of the rangers working at the Elbow Valley Information Centre that this erratic originated at Mt. Edith Cavell, near Jasper. It was carried here on the back of Cordilleran ice sheets tens of thousands of years ago, during the last Ice Age. This erratic, plus one higher up the trail, were dropped onto the hillside as the glaciers receded. It is one of many such “rocks” in the Foothills Erratic Train.
Looking north (up hill) from the posted coordinates, and depending on the time of year, you will observe a whole bunch of what looks like gravel top-dressing. It almost looks like someone lifted a huge container of gravel via helicopter and then scattered in over the ground. To make this earthcache accessible when there’s snow on the ground, here are a couple of photos of this phenomenon.
To log this earthcache, please complete the following:
1. E-mail the cache owner (do not post) the approximate dimensions of the glacial erratic - height, length and width.
2. E-mail the cache owner (do not post) your theory as to why this gravel “top-dressing” is spread overtop some areas of the slope.
3. If you have a digital camera, a photo of you and/or your GPSr at the posted coordinates with the erratic and/or gravel in the background would be most appreciated.
4. In your log, mention at least one other interesting thing you observed along the trail. Observations about the geology of the area would be especially appreciated.
Please begin your e-mail with the name of the earthcache and make sure your log includes the number of people in your group.
Click here to send e-mail.
Additional Hints
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