Canadian Rockies Icefield Centre

Five days have gone by as we leave Banff, Lake Louise, and British Columbia behind.  Now, we’re heading north, first up the Trans-Canada Highway, then on to the Icefields Parkway as we head toward Jasper, Alberta.

Canada manages its tourism industry well.  The Icefields Centre (British spelling) Pavilion features several interesting exhibits describing the Athabasca Glacier and the surrounding glacial fields. Across the highway (above right) is a separate parking area at the “toe” of the Athabasca Glacier, intended for those who want to walk the glacier.  Those tiny dots in the center of the photo are people on the glacier.  The large pile of dirt and stone has been pushed and deposited by the force of glacial movement.

This photo shows the lower and upper portions of the Athabasca Glacier.  Unlike Victoria Glacier, the Athabasca is one continuous glacier.  The distance in this picture, from the toe of the glacier to the top portion is about one mile, although the glacier extends much further.