Hibernate in the Elusive Bearcat Caves
Letter From Reader: Bearcat Caves. Tried to go today (Aug. 5/2014). On Monte Lake Main, at 5.7, the road is deactivated. Only quads and dirt bikes (and pedestrians with a LOT of time and stamina!!) past this point.
:( Tom
:( Tom
The Bearcat Caves were discovered by Mike Ritcey of Bearcat Outfitters. While tracking a cougar (the kinds you find in the wild, not the kind you find in a country bar) Mike discovered his prey taking refuge from the dogs in a cave. On another trip a bear did the same thing.
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Numerous caves follow an old lava fault line. Some of them are easy to access while others require proper climbing gear to enter. It has become a popular place with geocacher’s who enjoy hiding caches in fissures. One geocache enthusiast wrote: “We have been exploring these caves (fissures) for almost three years and every time we are left amazed with what we see. This day we didn’t repel into the depths below but we did descend down the “Ice Slide” and had a snowball fight. Yes, snow 12 months of the year.”
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HOW TO GET THERE – From Kamloops drive to Monte Lake then turn right onto Mill Road and follow it over the railway tracks and across a small bridge. A few minutes down the road you will get to a fork that says George Cr. Road, take the left fork and follow it 16.8 km until you reach another fork. Take the left road and you will see a sign that reads Wood Meadow Road. Follow it until you see a large clearing with three roads, stay left and drive for a few minutes until you see a road to your right called Wood 200 Road.
You will need a vehicle with plenty of clearance as there are fallen trees across the road. Drive for 3.8 kilometers until you reach a clearing with a log that reads Bearcat Caves/Clowns. This is where you park; the coordinates are N50 23.387, W119 51.22. From here walk across the clearing to your left and you will come across your first cave opening at N50 23.455, W119 51.22.
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This sign marks the parking area
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