The Twin Falls:
The Twin Falls are fed by runoff water from the Glacier des Poilus, a large glacier which is part of the Wapta Icefield. The meltwaters from the Wapta feed four river systems: the Bow and the Mistaya on the Atlantic slope, and the Yoho/Kicking Horse and the Blaeberry on the Pacific slope. The eastern slope of the icefield is entirely within Banff National Park. With the exceptions of a few ice tongues along the northwestern and western margins of the icefield, the western slope is in Yoho National Park. Mt. Gordon (3203 meters), entirely in BC, is the highest point on the Wapta Icefield.
The principal outlet glaciers of the Wapta Icefield and the watercourses that they feed are: Bow Glacier (Bow Lake and Bow River), Peyto Glacier (Peyto Lake and Mistaya River), Ayesha Glacier (Wildcat Creek/Blaeberry River), Yoho Glacier (Yoho River/Kicking Horse River), Vulture Glacier (Hector Lake and Bow River) and of course the Glacier des Poilus (Twin Falls and Yoho River). The icefield is best known as a venue for ski mountaineering. The popular traverse routes are north-south, from Peyto Lake or Bow Lake to Sherbrooke Lake (including the Waputik Icefield), and east-west, from Bow Lake to the Little Yoho Valley.
To log this geocache, send me an email with answers the following questions:
1) Estimate the height of the Twin Falls.
2) Indicate the number of falls at the Twin Falls during your visit. If fewer than 2 falls, give a brief explain why this may be.
3) Realizing that the Twin Falls are glacier fed, give an educated guess as to which month you think has the greatest water flow rate? Why?
4) (OPTIONAL) In your online log, post a picture of yourself at the Twin Falls.
Note: This Earthcache is only accessible in the summer when the Yoho Valley road is open (typically late June through early October, although it is weather dependent). A valid park pass is required for any exploration of Yoho National Park.
This Earthcache was established with permission from Parks Canada.
Information Sources: IMAGE: Copyright Paul Skoczylas (http://www3.telus.net/avrsvr/D20070716_017H.html). Glacier information obtained via Bivouac.com (http://bivouac.com/ArxPg.asp?rq=More&FldName=ArxDescr&ArxId=1125)