Jasper

Jasper is a wonderful base to explore the Rockies and the lodge where we stayed, Chateau Jasper was very comfortable and well appointed.

Today we were going on a tour to the Columbia Ice fields

Waiting for our tour the surrounding scenery was beautiful:

As our bus travelled towards the Columbia Glacier, the Rocky Mountain peaks towered on both sides of the road.

 

We arrived at the Athabasca Falls, which is fed by the Athabasca river.

It has carved a large deep gorge through the rock. The river flow is exceptionally fast and powerful as it passes through the gorge.

Up to 1,500 m the vegetation is both deciduous trees and Aspen conifers.

Jasper is 1,000m above sea level and we were now climbing to 2,200m the glacier.

 As we climbed to about 1,500m (what was described as Sub-alpine) the only trees are conifers.

 Passing the Skywalk.

The glacial ice flow came into view:

The view from the Columbia Ice fields Hotel and operations base is spectacular but often is shrouded in fog..

We boarded a special purpose vehicle designed to travel on the glacier.

The ice fields are situated between the peaks and their glaciers the feed down the valleys. To avoid dirt being carried onto the ice fields (which can accelerate the ice melting in sunlight), the vehicle passes through the water trapped at the base of the path.

Trees do not grow at this altitude (2,200m).

The main glacier is called the Athabaster glacier but it in fact feeds the Sunwapta River and valley. Originally, it was wrongly thought that the Athabaster glacier fed the river of the same name)

We had about 30minutes to walk on the icefield. Needless to say it was rather cold, but we all had rugged up.

Next the Skywalk: We didn’t see much since it was now snowing and visibility was only a few meters.

Practice for New Zealand snow fields next year

So within the space of minutes the weather had worsened.

 Then cleared…

On our way back to Jasper the Sunwapta river valley was clearly visible.

Then the weather had cleared.

Even at the Skywalk. But alas we couldn’t go again.

The busride home gave some good views:

The road was partially closed to with work to prevent large rockfall by creating smaller ones

At last some wildlife, we passed a stag on the side of the raod

Back in  Jasper.

Tuesday September 19

Jasper Skytrain:

We waited for our ‘flight’ to the top of the mountain

Soon we could see the Jasper township and the Athabaster river from the cable car

And the surrounding mountains…

The vista from the mountain terminal varandah

Jasper

Although it was cold, the clear visibility made the assent very enjoyable