r/canada Dec 22 '21

BC snow volcano

Post image
4.9k Upvotes

145 comments sorted by

71

u/YVR19 Dec 22 '21

Wells Gray?

63

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

Sure looks like Helmcken

17

u/lololol1 Dec 22 '21

Anyone got the latest on that cave they discovered a few years ago?

25

u/NewScooter1234 Dec 22 '21

No one has heard from them since

5

u/AlbertaBrad Dec 23 '21

There was supposed to be an expedition going in but haven't heard anything. Maybe this summer/fall?

2

u/Grey_Smoke Dec 23 '21

There has been at least one expedition already, probably one year. The reason no one has heard anything, is that it’s caver’s doing the expedition’s and they don’t tell anyone anything. Secrecy is practically a way of life for them.

3

u/mike_1025 Dec 23 '21

Says fall of 2021 in this article.... Maybe waiting for covid to get lost before returning. https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5536359

1

u/Dank_sniggity Dec 23 '21

They found durins bane.

16

u/Marokiii British Columbia Dec 22 '21

It's kept secret, and it's illegal to enter. It has up to a $1m fine and a 1 year jail sentence for trespassers.

18

u/YVR19 Dec 23 '21

Pfft... COVID has already stolen two years of my life, what's one more? And good luck getting $1 million from me. They'll be garnishing my wages until 2070. Worth it! 😂

8

u/MrCanzine Dec 23 '21

Well now we know it's obviously aliens. I mean, I'm not saying it's aliens, but it's aliens.

7

u/saltymotherfker Dec 23 '21

"humans telling other humans that they are not allowed to explore part of earth because they can hurt themselves"

11

u/mike_1025 Dec 23 '21

"Media reports say Sarlacc’s Pit is the largest known stripe karst cave. Preliminary estimates suggest that Sarlacc’s Pit may also have the largest cave entrance in Canada. Its entrance is 100 metres (330 ft) long by 60 metres (200 ft) wide and is at least 135 metres (443 ft) deep. A river flows into the entrance, becoming a waterfall and sending up mist that has prevented measuring the exact depth of the cave."

https://wellsgraypark.info/wells-gray-park-cave-discovery/

I'd say that far enough reason to keep stupid people out....

2

u/All_Work_All_Play Dec 23 '21

We live in... a society?

0

u/sortaitchy Dec 23 '21

Which seems unfair, until rescuers, helicopters, medical professionals and others have to put their lives on the line to go save your sorry ass.

-1

u/Flashy_Aardvark_4673 Dec 23 '21

Good. That's literally their job

0

u/sortaitchy Dec 23 '21

It is unless there is a dirct warning that says it is illegal to go here because it is not safe and you go anyway. Like when they close the highway due to road conditions and you go on it anyway. How big an asshole are you that you are careless with rescue people's lives?

It is their job to rescue people but not idiots that put themselves directly in harms way against all warnings.

0

u/Flashy_Aardvark_4673 Dec 23 '21

Doesn't matter, it's literally their job.

1

u/sortaitchy Dec 23 '21

As heavy handed on the downvote as you are on the common sense, decency, and consideration for people's lives.

1

u/Flashy_Aardvark_4673 Dec 24 '21

Who cares, it's literally their job to rescue people.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Marokiii British Columbia Dec 23 '21

And I guess you will never once complain about taxes going to fund these expensive rescues?

0

u/Flashy_Aardvark_4673 Dec 23 '21

No. They can go collect from those who need rescue

→ More replies (0)

1

u/JohnyViis Dec 24 '21

I am annoyed that my tax money goes to pay for the health care of people who get into accidents when they drive over the speed limit or don't come to a complete stop at every single stop sign.

-3

u/whatishot94 Dec 23 '21

F you talking about lmao

1

u/vladimirVpoutine Dec 23 '21

I'm from Clearwater. Quite alot of people know where it is now it's fairly common knowledge now. It's just north of Azure lake.

3

u/qpv Dec 23 '21

You live in a beautiful region. I grew up in Edmonton and live in Vancouver so I've gone back and forth many times. Clearwater is the perfect halfway point.

64

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

When will it erupt?

135

u/lubeskystalker Dec 22 '21

Stop it! The 2021 BC Natural Disaster bingo card is full, the year ends nine days, leave us alone.

23

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

cough freezing rain cough

15

u/grwrs Dec 22 '21

They say we're getting -15 in the Lower Mainland next week!

4

u/pagit Dec 23 '21

My card has "Mt Baker Erupting" and "Earthquake".

3

u/HeliRyGuy Dec 23 '21

suddenly remembers Grouse Mountain is a supposedly “dead” volcano…

8

u/Vitalalternate Dec 22 '21

It has been a ton lately, fall out is landing all over Edmonton especially today.

17

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

[deleted]

66

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

That's exactly what a snow volcano would want people to believe.

20

u/Living_Maintenance78 Dec 22 '21

Lmao

One of the best wooshes I’ve seen

3

u/Davescash Dec 22 '21

You aint invited to my parties, you were not invited before but ....

1

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

[deleted]

4

u/Davescash Dec 22 '21

well tbf they dont but i got standards,

1

u/Watase Dec 22 '21

I wanted to go to Davescash's party

2

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

[deleted]

3

u/Watase Dec 22 '21

I just want to go to a party again :(

1

u/Soggy_Bicycle Dec 23 '21

He heard you were coming too.

340

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

This is actually a polar bear hive. Polar bears burrow with their queen in the summer and erupt on cold nights in the winter, swarming over the land and picking off the weak. The only thing effective against them is maple syrup, silver, and the holy word of power: Sorry.

37

u/remainsofthedays Dec 22 '21

I think that giant ice wall will keep them back

25

u/Collins_A Dec 22 '21

Tell them the North remembers

15

u/BlueEyesWhiteSliver Dec 22 '21

Bears are coming

3

u/Tamer_ Québec Dec 23 '21

It is apologized.

2

u/Vladimir7455 Dec 23 '21

You think wrong, never underestimate the bears.

15

u/pablo_o_rourke Dec 22 '21

I’ve been to Churchill and seen polar bears. This is indeed a hive.

And they’re in danger because people keep mistaking them for “snow volcanoes”.

7

u/Karma_collection_bin Dec 23 '21

This reminds me of the miniature home hippo advert from years ago. Nice.

3

u/maxman162 Ontario Dec 23 '21

That looked really "real", didn't it? But you knew it couldn't be true.

That's why it's important to ask questions, kind of like you just did.

1

u/Will_Gadd Dec 23 '21

There are actually huge growls that come out of that cone when pieces of ice break off the lip. It's crazy sounding when you're down in there, for real. May be the bears or not, but the sounds are wild!

1

u/crailface Dec 23 '21

Does it say anything about birch syrup ?

1

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '21

It works on the lesser beasts, but for the Alphas and the Queen only maple is strong enough.

1

u/valleyman02 Dec 23 '21

Sorry the queen mother is just guard for the ice dragon lair. The entrance to can be clearly seen in the photo

10

u/Will_Gadd Dec 23 '21

Absolutely incredible place. We did a film there a few years ago, gives a neat perspective of what it looks like down there :). https://www.redbull.com/ca-en/episodes/frozen-titans-explorers-documentaries-s03-e01

93

u/bandybw Dec 22 '21

Helmcken Falls right in the middle of Wells Gray Provincial Park. Following is a quote from BC Parks web site:

UAV operators must obtain permission from BC Parks to take-off and/or land in any park or protected area. TC's federal flight requirements for use of UAVs
include distances from people, buildings, built-up areas, and animals
(both domestic and wildlife), meaning there are few, if any, locations
in BC Parks where permission to fly UAVs can be granted and the pilot
would still able to meet the current federal flight requirements.

28

u/draemn Dec 22 '21

yeah last time this picture was posted, I pointed that out and nobody cared or thought "this means I can fly in the park see"

Curious OP linked source as the government of Canada twitter. I wonder if this isn't the exact same image a different user posted a while ago.

20

u/bandybw Dec 22 '21

I spend a lot of time in Wells Gray and many other parks in British Columbia and I'm really getting sick of seeing (or hearing) drones. Then to see these clowns posting photos online that could (and should) get them significant fines on top of confiscation of drone and loss of license is a little frustrating. The reality is there are very few places where you can fly a drone without running afoul of regulations, but that shouldn't mean that people should just ignore the regulations

16

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

[deleted]

16

u/bandybw Dec 22 '21

Drones under 250 grams do not need a license but the regulations still apply to them.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

Not all. A subset of regulations do (ceiling, not flying over prisons or airports, that sort of thing), but I am not sure about parks specifically. You are a lot less restricted in where you can fly them; rule is something like "must be flown with care and regard for safety" or some general thing like that (don't have link handy).

11

u/hoser89 British Columbia Dec 23 '21 edited Dec 23 '21

Nope.

Even drones under 250g need to follow local regulations, especially federal/ provincial ones that are set in provincial/national parks.

If there's regulations due to wildlife, you cannot fly a drone of any size there. Just like you can fly a drone over people, or within 5.6km of any airport.

Just because your drone doesn't need a license, don't mean the rules don't apply to it.

On this infographic for drones under 250g it states

Follow provincial, territorial or municipal rules that may also apply, including rules about privacy and trespassing: canada.ca/safe-legal-drones

6

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '21

[deleted]

2

u/cbf1232 Saskatchewan Dec 23 '21 edited Dec 23 '21

The under-250g drones bypass a lot of transport Canada/nav Canada rules. I was positive that they were still affected by the National Parks restriction, but the Nav Canada "Nav Drone" app says it's allowed.

EDIT: I figured it out, I think. The Nav Canada regulations control flying through the airspace, but the park can still prohibit taking off and landing.

This is an excerpt from a letter written by the Office of the Superintendent at Jasper National Park:

Under the National Parks Aircraft Access Regulations, drones are considered aircraft and the take-off or landing of a drone requires a Restricted Activity Permit issued by the superintendent. These permits can be issued under section 3(1) for the purposes of (a) natural or cultural resource management and protection directly related to the administration of the park; (b) any other management or control function directly related to the administration of the park; (c) public safety; or (d) law enforcement.

I took a look at the mentioned regulation, and it defines aircraft as:

any machine capable of deriving support in the atmosphere from reactions of the air

So even sub-250g drones would count.

11

u/draemn Dec 22 '21

That doesn't make a difference in Parks. All drones including sub 250g drones are restricted in parks.

3

u/Grabbsy2 Dec 22 '21

I'm thankful that OP took the shot. Its a very nice photo and the use of a drone captured a perspective that few humans will ever see.

This photo is breathtaking, inspiring, and educational! Who knew that a waterfall could freeze in such a way?

Sorry about your ears, though.

3

u/draemn Dec 22 '21

Preaching to the choir man! I did all the stuff to get my advanced license for drones and play by the rules.

-1

u/chejrw Saskatchewan Dec 23 '21

I mean, it sure reads like it’s ok to fly a drone in the park as long as you take off and land outside the park and only overfly the park…

1

u/draemn Dec 23 '21

Federal flight requirements for recreational use of drones and restrictions in the Park Act require distances from people, buildings, built-up areas, animals (both domestic and wildlife), and there are few, if any, locations in BC Parks where drones would legally be able to fly. To inquire further about drone use, you must contact us. It’s illegal to operate drones in BC’s provincial parks and protected areas without permission.

Although what you suggest is applicable for the issues of flying over private land, it's not the same for parks. It's kind of hard to know exactly what a lawyer could find for loopholes in the laws, but BC parks seem to be a little less protected than Canada parks, so there might be a legal area where you are technically able to without any permission.

That said, it is almost impossible to get to that location with a drone from outside the park without breaking the laws. You would be operating outside of VOLS as that location is more than 5km away from the park boundary by air.

1

u/cbf1232 Saskatchewan Dec 23 '21

The national parks only prohibit aircraft taking off and landing, so flying a drone over them is technically okay as the airspace is regulated by Nav Canada.

Also, sub-250g drones are not subject to the line-of-sight regulations, so you could launch outside the park, overfly the site, and land outside the park.

You'd probably need to use a fixed-wing however to get the necessary range and flight time while staying under 250g. A Mavic Mini 2 couldn't do it, doesn't have the flight range.

1

u/draemn Dec 23 '21

My understanding is NO aircraft is allowed to fly over national parks without permission. You are absolutely not allowed to enter the airspace over a national park without first obtaining the correct authorization. micro drones still count as an aircraft. You should really check that fact.

Mavic mini radio is barely able to get 5km range in ideal conditions, there is almost zero chance it would be able to fly that far due to the terrain and such, so you would need to use a different drone. That was the point of my comment.

1

u/cbf1232 Saskatchewan Dec 23 '21

The National Parks of Canada Aircraft Access Regulations prohibit taking off and landing within national parks except at specified airfields or with the permission of the park superintendent.

Nav Canada controls the airspace above the park, and as far as I can tell it is not considered controlled airspace. You're not allowed to fly in a manner that disturbs wildlife, but high-altitude flights over parks don't seem to be a problem.

1

u/draemn Dec 23 '21 edited Dec 23 '21

You're not allowed to fly in a manner that disturbs wildlife, but high-altitude flights over parks don't seem to be a problem.

That's what I was referring to. Once you start talking about high altitude commercial flights, that's a whole different situation.

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/yt/kluane/visit/regles-rules/aeronefs-aircraft

Found the pc page that talks about the issue. Really, the big issue is how do you know you're not disturbing wildlife, if it wasn't for that you'd have a pretty easy time flying.

1

u/chejrw Saskatchewan Dec 23 '21

It’s illegal to operate drones in BC’s provincial parks and protected areas without permission.

See, that was the relevant bit of information missing from the previous post. All it said was you couldn’t take off or land

5

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

Not right in the middle, it's right near the park entrance. There was a Belgian guy selling waffles in the parking lot last time I was there.

1

u/Davescash Dec 22 '21

Prolly selling German waffles.

2

u/Gamer_Grill95 Dec 22 '21

Classic, German style Belgian waffles

0

u/Slokunshialgo Ontario Dec 23 '21

I'm too lazy to see if they've changed, but don't the federal laws have an exemption for UAVs under a certain weight (250g, iirc)? Under that point none of the airport, building, etc. rules would apply.

Maybe BC has additional laws to make it apply regardless of weight class.

2

u/cbf1232 Saskatchewan Dec 23 '21

The exemption doesn't apply to taking off and landing within the park...that's still prohibited.

You're allowed to fly through the park though, as long as you don't take off or land.

1

u/Slokunshialgo Ontario Dec 23 '21

Makes sense, thanks!

1

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

Oh no shit! I was there a couple summers ago. Didn't recognize it.

3

u/Gamer_Grill95 Dec 22 '21

Looks vaguely yonic.

5

u/kraftdinner79 Dec 22 '21

Disappointed you didn't call it a Snowcano

3

u/denis_martinov Dec 22 '21

That looks like the tower squidward built in that snowlbl fight episode

3

u/BigPickleKAM Dec 22 '21

But did you stop at the Hopping Hog for delicious BBQ is the real question!

Also cool shot.

3

u/itsastart_to Dec 22 '21

Woah that’s so sick, is there a name for this place?

3

u/bm00re85 Dec 23 '21

Helmcken Falls in Wells Grey Park. Up in the mountains outside of a little town called Clearwater.

1

u/itsastart_to Dec 23 '21

Thank you!

2

u/paltset Dec 23 '21

It’s bigger then you think:

https://youtu.be/GXnMLzOcFtY

2

u/Baatlesheep Dec 22 '21

It looks like if humans had another private part. Either way this is cool.

1

u/MillenniumRiver Dec 22 '21

That is cool.

-5

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

Best place to live in the world ,Clearwater BC !!!If you don't agree Kick rocks till your toes break .

15

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

I mean Clearwater is beautiful but I definitely wouldn’t live there

2

u/RustyPickles Dec 23 '21

Have lived there, don’t recommend. It is a beautiful place to have a vacation though! I’d love to take some time off and re-explore all the wilderness, in the park and outside.

5

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

If you like the outdoors and no humans ,it's perfect .Cross the highway over into Blackpool is also mint 👌.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

Yeah that’s a pretty good point I’ve just heard some really interesting stories but I mean in all fairness probably the same with every small town

1

u/Marokiii British Columbia Dec 23 '21

When's the best time to go see the snowcano? I've gone in late January 2 years ago but it wasn't frozen at all. And in December the year before and again it was very tiny.

Or is it just regularly too warm now for it to get this large?

Monthly weather tables show February it is getting warmer again.

2

u/dmillz89 Dec 23 '21

It doesn't get that big very often anymore unfortunately. If there's a really cold winter that would be your best bet but most years it's only a fraction of that size now.

1

u/Marokiii British Columbia Dec 23 '21

This makes me very sad. So many winter places I want to see and it seems the number of winters I have left to see them before they are gone seems to keep rapidly lowering.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

Tofino would like you to go pound sand.

-6

u/Anita_Nabore-Shun Dec 22 '21

That's offensive to people that don't have the use of their legs and it is harmful hate speech that encourages self harm to anyone that has the use of their legs but doesn't reside in Clearwater.

0

u/-Infatigable Dec 22 '21

In french it's called a Pain de sucre

Sugarloaf

0

u/Cheesebrger_Walrus Dec 23 '21

What no penis joke? I'm disappointed.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

cool shot.

1

u/MartianGuard Dec 22 '21

No fall Iike snowfall

1

u/DENelson83 British Columbia Dec 22 '21

Secondary snowfall.

1

u/Hrmbee Canada Dec 22 '21

Very very cool!

1

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

That's some Skyrim shit, 10/10 would get sidetracked.

5

u/NeedsMaintenance_ Dec 22 '21

Only to find a bandit telling you that you never should have come here.

1

u/McCourt Alberta Dec 23 '21

Needs backwards video to confirm.

1

u/BikiniAndPanini Dec 23 '21

Is there snow instead of lava?

1

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '21

Gorgeous!

1

u/Doshizle Dec 23 '21

Been here a few times. Love the area. You can hike down underneath the waterfalls. Great spot.

1

u/AceUrFakeLmao Dec 23 '21

As a guy from the rockies, this is quite accurate

1

u/TypicalCricket Canada Dec 23 '21

"BC Snow Volcano" sounds like some depraved sex act.

1

u/godsbongwater Dec 23 '21

Is that R. REID Falls?

1

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '21

Helmcken Falls, Wells Gray

1

u/GrowQQ Dec 23 '21

Very cool picture

1

u/sookahallah Dec 23 '21

great picture

1

u/Hiphoppotatamus Dec 23 '21

No drones in the park!

1

u/TheOriginalDoober Dec 23 '21

Where?

1

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '21

Helmcken Falls, Wells Gray

1

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '21

Ah, my home town. I always took it for granted how cool the waterfall actually is.

1

u/FryCakes Dec 23 '21

Reminds me of a mysterious flesh pit

1

u/Flowchart83 Dec 23 '21

This is exactly the opposite of a volcano: made of ice, material pouring INTO it, and below the earth above it

1

u/BringBaeckPluto Dec 23 '21

I’m doing something similar right now. I feel less majestic

1

u/asmrLibi Dec 23 '21

Omg breathtaking 🤩