This cache was placed near the starting point for the scramble up Mount Tyrwhitt or for anyone wanting to explore Grizzly Ridge, Paradise Valley or even Highwood Ridge. It's also a short “side trip” for anyone doing the Pocaterra Ridge hike, which is described in Gillean Daffern’s Kanansaskis Country Trail Guide Vol 1 and also in Where Locals Hike in the Canadian Rockies by Kathy & Craig Copeland.
While the Mount Tyrwhitt scramble is too much for us, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND heading up the ridge east of the cache hiding spot. The views into Paradise Valley from the top are fantastic; you can also see east across Highway 40 into Ptarmigan Cirque. And if you continue a little further along the ridge towards Highwood Ridge, the views from the high point looking north up the valley are awesome.
This hike starts by traversing a sub alpine meadow. Be sure to stay on the established trail to avoid damaging the fragile vegetation. Once you enter the forest, you will traverse a long, boggy section. Watch your step carefully, or you will be wishing you had on waterproof footwear. You may also end up with a couple pounds of mud clinging to the bottom of your boots! After the boggy section, you will descend through the woods, then cross an avalanche path before entering a valley that’s completely isolated from Highway 40, providing a real opportunity for quiet introspection. Shortly after you pass the tarn, you will come to a small cairn, marking the Grizzly Col trailhead (see additional waypoint). Take the south-heading trail.
Work your way along the edge of the rock fall in Pocaterra Cirque and then head up along the faintly visible trail, towards the east end of Mount Tyrwhitt. When you make it to the top of the ridge, there is a fantastic view down the valley to the south. To the north, you can “see” our Fav. Hike 4 – The Best One Yet! Cache (GCY7BA). There is also an approved waymark for the arch at the east ridge of Mount Tyrwhitt (Nature – Natural Arches WMTCD).
GPSr was showing cache location to within 5 meters. The posted coordinates are the average of 100 "marks" and there wasn't much variation. BE SURE TO CHECK THE SPOILER PHOTO, so you know exactly where to look.
Cache container is an ammo-taped, rectangular, 1 liter lock ‘n’ lock. Since it’s fairly small, original contents include mostly small geocaching-related items (lanyards, pins, etc.), along with some finders cards. Please stick to similar type items for trading.
There’s not much variation in the terrain here, so it’s safe to say it’s hidden in some rocks.
UPDATE 02 Sept 2007 - after Sleepy_hollow's extensive but unsuccessful hunt for the cache in its original hiding spot, we moved the container into a somewhat stand-alond rock formation with a limited number of possible hiding spots. It's no longer a "needle in a haystack" hide! Be sure to check the spoiler so you know where to look.
