Stepping onto Ancient Ice: A Columbia Icefield Adventure
The epic last day of our Canadian Rockies bus tour
Friday, August 10th, 2023 ~ After enjoying the charming town of Jasper, we spent the last full day of our bus tour visiting Jasper National Park’s Columbia Icefield, an hour south of Jasper.
That’s where we’re headed, the Athabasca Glacier between Mount Andromeda and Mount Snow Done. The name Athabasca is based on a Cree word meaning “place where the reeds grow.”
Just off of Icefield Parkway, the Athabasca Glacier is the most accessible glacier in the world.
At the Visitor Center, we boarded a Columbia Icefield bus to take us to the other side of the road where the Ice Explorers are.
The Columbia Icefield has 22 Ice Explorers, each weighing 27 tons. The six tires are 5’ tall.
Getting ready to climb up into the massive vehicle. Our driver and guide Sebastian has worked here for four years. It’s a paid seasonal job with dormitory lodging nearby.
Windows all around as Sebastian gives us a safety briefing.
After traveling up the side of a mountain in the Ice Explorer, we see where we’re headed…
But first, we have to descend a 34% grade going down the mountain.
According to Sebastian, the Columbia Icefield is the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies, sprawling over 20 square miles of ice 400-1,000 feet thick.
The Athabasca Glacier is one of six major "toes" that flow out from the Columbia Icefield. The glacier covers an area of more than two square miles.
Sebastian warned us to stay off the blue ice…
And inside the boundary markers.
In the Spring, the glacier is covered by blanket of white snow. By Fall, it looks pretty dirty.
We had about 45 minutes to savor the experience and take photos. Sebastian was kind enough to take our photo.
A fellow traveler wanted glacial water, so Kate filled up her bottle.
This Texas couple from our tour was celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary (he was 89 and she was 88). They had been here 50 years ago and were shocked at how far the glacier had receded.
When they were here 50 years ago, the glacier was all the way down the mountain where the greenish lake is on the middle left of the photo. For perspective, the Visitor Center in the middle right is across the road and above the lake.
Time to head back to the Visitor Center.
Ride along with us and hear Sebastian describe how the Athabasca Glacier is disappearing.
After lunch, we enjoyed learning more about the Columbia Icefield at the Visitor Center. Kate is pointing to where we were on the Athabasca Glacier.
Sadly, as mentioned earlier, the Athabasca Glacier is retreating.
The left side of the photo below is from 1917 and you can see it covers the lake. The right side is a 2017 photo with the lake fully exposed from the retreating glacier.
Watch the Visitor Center video simulation of the disappearing icefield.
A Bombardier Snow Cat outside the Visitor Center.
Lots of tour buses lined up. It’s also the Visitor Center for the Icefield Skywalk, a suspended glass platform 918-feet above rocky, wild terrain.
Our tour didn’t offer that option…Kate was glad.
The disappearing Athabasca Glacier…we were glad to have seen it and had a chance to walk on it.
<sigh> Then it was time to head back to Calgary for our final group dinner.
One last glimpse at the beautiful Canadian Rockies.
Next up, the Canadian Rockies bus tour wrap-up.
If you missed any days of our tour, click here:
What an experience it must have been to see the Athabasca Glacier upfront and personal. To witness the changes and retreat of a massive glacier over a span of 100 years is truly astounding. And how wonderful to share it with the couple married for 65 years! Thank you for sharing!
Wow, Deb, what a trip you had! Tucson is beautiful too, but it had to be hard to leave the Canadian Rockies!