A year after our first trip to Bearcat Caves, we returned to expand our explorations of the caves and the area.    The Kamloops Search and Rescue team had done an exercise in the caves area, marking a trail route in and the cave mouth openings.    They had also explored some of the caves on a rope team and had found the network to be larger and more complex than could be seen in  single day.   We followed the flagged trail in and visited each marked opening.

The route to Bearcat Caves was provided in an early post (link).    The road is best driven in summer or fall.   A large painted sign now sits by the parking area.

As we followed the route in and out using the flagging tape, we visited a few rifts that can be entered and explored on foot. Holes into lower chambers like the one above would require climbing gear and an experienced team. As we approached the main line of caves, we worked our way around deadfall which is heaviest right at the caves. The main rift runs northwest to south east. At the northwest end the holes would all require climbing gear, but it was fun to peer down into the depths anyway.

We found 4 caves that can be explored safely with good boots, a helmet, and a headlamp.    About mid-way along the big rift, a route down into one of the caves requires a careful descent.   We used a rope for extra support, and had to watch our heads because of jutting jagged rock, but were able to get to the floor of the cave which we followed each way as far as we could.    When we journeyed underground north west, we estimated that we were about 100 feet below ground.   We could see light through a couple of holes above.    Even in October, ice lingered in the sheltered spots.   At the end of this corridor, we arrived at a hole which descended into the depths, called the Ice Slide.   Climbing teams have descended to the lower chambers and have explored for an hour without finding all of the chambers.    The first photo is the entrance to the lower caves:

In an adjacent cave, we followed the cave floor until it was all ice covered in a foot of water.    We tested each step and proceeded as far as we could stepping on rocks until we could go no further without wading in.   We will return to this one in the early summer before the ice has melted.

Farther southeast, we entered the main cave which can be traversed from end to end.   This one has a third entrance exit which can be done with some scrambling.    This cave has more light and is suitable for the more timid.

We wanted continue along the rift line to look for more caves.   We had heard that there are cave openings in the cliffs below, overlooking the Salmon River Valley, but this exploration would have to wait for another day.    On the way out, we found two more caves, one of which was only a short distance from the parking area.     We could traverse this one from end to end, but at the east end, there would be a 10 foot climb out, so we went to the end and back out.     Afterwards, we walked down to the top of  the bluffs to enjoy views of the the lava cliffs.   A trail leads to the edge and also travels along the rim in both directions.

Bearcat Caves are not for everyone.    The location is remote, there are no trails into the area, the rock is rough and potentially unstable, and the cave openings are not all safe.   Three of the caves have a safer entry route, but should only be tried by experienced parties with the appropriate gear.   We will continue to explore the area every year because it is unique to our area and always an adventure.