The Columbia Icefield Jul 20, 2022

South on the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to Banff, we stop for an experience on the Athabasca Glacier
ColumbiaIcefield-003 Heading south from Jasper to the Columbia Icefield, we passed Diadem Peak which rises to 11,060 ft
1 Heading south from Jasper to the Columbia Icefield, we passed Diadem Peak which rises to 11,060 ft
ColumbiaIcefield-006 Stutfield Glacier is at the northern end of the Columbia Icefield
2 Stutfield Glacier is at the northern end of the Columbia Icefield
ColumbiaIcefield-008 Stutfield Glacier is at the northern end of the Columbia Icefield
3 Stutfield Glacier is at the northern end of the Columbia Icefield
ColumbiaIcefield-011 View of the Athabasca Glacier, which is one of several that descend from the Columbia Icefield, from the visitor center across the road.
4 View of the Athabasca Glacier, which is one of several that descend from the Columbia Icefield, from the visitor center across the road.
ColumbiaIcefield-012 Boarding the beasts that are going to take us onto the glacier
5 Boarding the beasts that are going to take us onto the glacier
ColumbiaIcefield-013 Descending a 30% grade at 3 mph for the final stretch onto the glacier, the warning sign about
6 Descending a 30% grade at 3 mph for the final stretch onto the glacier, the warning sign about "steep inclines" doesn't begin to convey how scary it is when the road drops out of sight in front of you.
ColumbiaIcefield-015 Final approach onto the Athabasca Glacier
7 Final approach onto the Athabasca Glacier
ColumbiaIcefield-019 At first, Max was content to stay on the transport and wave to us fools that clambered off onto the ice
8 At first, Max was content to stay on the transport and wave to us fools that clambered off onto the ice
ColumbiaIcefield-020 After much pursuasion, Max gingerly climbed out and hung onto the tire for dear life while the rest of us carefully made our way up the glacier
9 After much pursuasion, Max gingerly climbed out and hung onto the tire for dear life while the rest of us carefully made our way up the glacier
ColumbiaIcefield-021 Not having trekking poles or crampons, it took me 10 minutes to make it 100 yards uphill from the transports
10 Not having trekking poles or crampons, it took me 10 minutes to make it 100 yards uphill from the transports
ColumbiaIcefield-024 The Athabasca Glacier
11 The Athabasca Glacier
ColumbiaIcefield-025 Mount Andromeda, which rises to the 11,320 ft, and the Andromeda Glacier which is also part of the Columbia Icefield
12 Mount Andromeda, which rises to the 11,320 ft, and the Andromeda Glacier which is also part of the Columbia Icefield
ColumbiaIcefield-028 The intrepid glacial explorer ❄❄
13 The intrepid glacial explorer ❄❄