HIKES IN UPPER GRAND COULEE: CASTLE LAKE BASIN & GIANT CAVE ARCH
Registration Form,#43, Castle Lake and Giant Arch Cave Hikes, October 7 & 8, 2017
Two hikes on two days are scheduled in the Upper Grand Coulee area – Castle Lake Basin and Giant Cave Arch; you can participate in one hike or both hikes. Hike leaders are Gene Kiver and Bruce Bjornstad. Hikes are limited to 30 participants each. First hike is the Castle Lake Basin Hike and is scheduled for Saturday, October 7; it is near the east end of the massive Great Cataract Group and is about 3.5 miles round trip. The plunge pool lake and the potholed bench above Deep Lake are reached by an overland walk and descent across the Castle Lake cataract via two sturdy iron ladders (built mid last century during the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project). You can view some of the hike area on Bjornstad’s YouTube Ice Age Floodscape YouTube Channel Castle Lake Cataract.
The Sunday, October 8 event is the Giant Cave Arch hike. It is a rock shelter cave located in a remote canyon on the west side of the upper Grand Coulee. The hike is about 3 miles long and includes discussion and observation of Steamboat Rock and deltas that formed in former Glacial Lake Columbia.
AGE LIMITATION: Young adult’s ages 12-16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult during the hike; no children under the age of 12 are permitted.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HIKE: a hiker should be in good physical shape and be capable of hiking up to 6 miles, sometimes over rugged terrain. A hiker should not have serious heart or vertigo problems.
ITEMS TO BRING WITH YOU: Good shoes, water, snacks, lunch, appropriate clothing for variable weather and other conditions, protection from the sun, emergency items, cameras, and binoculars are strongly recommended. Walking poles might be helpful.
CAMPING: Overnight camping is available at Sun Lakes or Steamboat Rock state parks for those wishing to participate in both hikes. Motels are also available in nearby Grand Coulee or Soap Lake. More information will be sent to registrants. A Discover Pass is required for all parked vehicles.
Pets are not allowed on the hike(s).
REFER TO REGISTRATION FORM FOR MORE DETAILS OF THE HIKE.
Looking forward to seeing you on the hike trails.