Driving from Jasper National Park to Banff National Park takes one down one of the most beautiful stretches of roadway in all of North America: the Icefields Parkway. It is named for the Columbia Icefields, which is a collection glaciers and snowpack. Most of the glaciers are high up in the mountains and inaccessible to all but a highly skilled mountaineer, but you can view and even walk to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier.
At the time of our last visit (1997) we were able to walk right up onto the glacier from the toe, although a sign warned of crevasse dangers. Specially equipped “snocoaches” take visitors for a drive upon the thicker section of ice higher up. The snocoaches still run and there you can get out and walk around, but down by the toe things have changed dramatically. Numerous signs warn of a large lake and several rivers that have formed below the glacier, creating more treacherous conditions there. The trail is roped off and although it is not officially closed (which would mean crossing the barrier warranted a stiff fine), you would have to ford a wide rushing creek that now flows down the side and all the way around the toe of the glacier. We also noticed that it looks to have retreated roughly a quarter of a mile since 1997. I am basing that guess upon the placement of signs and comparison of our photos from last time.
Hey! I can see my house from here! No really -- it's front row, third from the left. At the time of our last visit (1997) we were able to walk right up onto the glacier from the toe, although a sign warned of crevasse dangers. Specially equipped “snocoaches” take visitors for a drive upon the thicker section of ice higher up. The snocoaches still run and there you can get out and walk around, but down by the toe things have changed dramatically. Numerous signs warn of a large lake and several rivers that have formed below the glacier, creating more treacherous conditions there. The trail is roped off and although it is not officially closed (which would mean crossing the barrier warranted a stiff fine), you would have to ford a wide rushing creek that now flows down the side and all the way around the toe of the glacier. We also noticed that it looks to have retreated roughly a quarter of a mile since 1997. I am basing that guess upon the placement of signs and comparison of our photos from last time.
If there is a good side to a rapidly retreating glacier it is that you can see what it brings down the mountain and leaves behind (geology lesson!). When we last visited we walked up the trail to the toe and then continued onto the ice. This time we walked up the trail then far down the slope of the massive pile of gravel that is known as a moraine. There are also now exposed areas of glacial polish, granite boulders embedded in the ground and shined as smooth as the countertops of a fancy kitchen. Then there is the lack of life. Save for a few hardy spikes of fireweed, there are no plants taking root as yet. In an environment as harsh as the alpine it can takes many, many years for vegetation to take root and flourish.
- Jenni
- Jenni