The Continental Divide of the Americas is the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas. The Continental Divide extends from the Bering Strait to the Strait of Magellan, and separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain into the Atlantic Ocean, and along the northernmost reaches of the Divide, those river systems that drain into the Arctic Ocean.
Though there are many other hydrological divides in the Americas, the Great Divide is by far the most prominent of these because it tends to follow a line of high peaks along the main ranges of the Rocky Mountains and Andes, at a generally much higher elevation than the other hydrological divisions. The red line in the image to the left is the line you will be standing on at this Earthcache.
In this part of Canada the Continental Divide not only divides the continent, but it also divides the political boundaries between the two provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Hence, when you visit this Earthcache, you will be standing in two different provinces at the same time!
To Reach the Sunshine Day Use Area you have Two Options:
1) Park at the recommended parking lot at Sunshine Village. Hike up the Sunshine access road for approximately 5 kilometers over 500 meters of elevation gain to reach the Sunshine Day Use area. Expect to take 2-3 hours. Remember that you will have to hike down at the end of the day as well!
2) For a fee, you can ride up on the Sunshine Village gondola to the Sunshine Day Use area.
From the Sunshine Day Use Area, hike 1 kilometer over 100 meters of elevation gain to reach the Earthcache.
There is a sign at the posted coordinates which you will need to visit and read to log this Earthcache.
To log this Earthcache you must answer the following (send answers via email):
1) From this specific location, water on the west side of the crest ultimately ends up where? Where does water on the east side of the divide go?
2) From which direction do the prevailing winds come from and from where do the winds carry their moisture?
3) What is the elevation of this location and how many months per year does it receive snowfall?
4) OPTIONAL: Post a photo of yourself near the Continental Divide! Please don't include a photo of the sign so you don't give the answers away.