The Icefields Parkway is considered to be one of, if not the most, beautiful drives in the world. National Geographic considers it one of the drives of a lifetime. I did my homework on this road! I researched grades, RV-worthiness, facilities, etc. and knew exactly what I was getting into as I headed south from Jasper towards Banff.
Except for one section after the Columbia Icefield, there are no major grades on the parkway, just a lot of small steep sections that could fool you into complacency and wear down your brakes. One of the things I quickly established was that I would not be able to stop as much as I would have liked for two reasons:
1) many rest stops and attractions were close-ended and too small to turn around with a toad;
2) they were at the bottom of hills and would require too much brake jamming to stop at.
I stopped whenever I felt I could safely do so and took long breaks to give both the brakes and the engine a chance for a rest, too.
The parkway starts off lined with trees and rimmed with jagged snowy peaks and then gradually climbs up to the Columbia Icefield where you can see the Athabasca glacier. I stopped at the centre there to see the exhibits, but was not tempted by a pricey trip up the glacier.
The Icefield is located about halfway and the day had been going so, so well. I could have driven up the glacier to a view point, but decided the grade was too steep and that if I made it up, I probably wouldn’t make it down. I was playing it safe.
So, I finally let myself relax and that was that. I’m not sure if I did something wrong going down that big grade, but I got my fill of mountain passes for a lifetime.
My picture gallery ends just after the Icefield. My mind was not on photography after that. 🙁
This plaque about David Thompson is significant to me. It says that he died at Longueuil, which is practically my hometown. I did not know this. It just goes to show how French Canada goes out of its way to squash down the English side of Canadian history.
look at where those clouds are!
perfect place to stop for lunch!
I love how these folks were sitting on their chairs, enjoying their picnic!
approaching Columbia Ice Fields
Athabasca Glacier
I don’t think I’ve seen one of these in two years!
Do you want to know… where are the toilets. Seriously. Personally, that wasn’t my first question upon arriving at the Ice Fields Centre!
staircase up to the Ice Fields Centre
with a camera zoom like that, who needs binoculars?
the glacier recedes annually a distance that is roughly equal to the width of a post card!
this memo states that the exhibits haven’t been updated since 1996, but they are working on updates
this double-sided sign used to stand a the border between Banff & Jasper national parks
this double-sided sign used to stand a the border between Banff & Jasper national parks
I made a note of this plaque because of the ‘water-melon snow algae’, which I saw a lot of on the Chilkoot
old Bombardier snow machine that took tourists up the glacier
a perfect example of why people have silly stereotypes about Canada
a perfect example of why people have silly stereotypes about Canada
I almost missed this nice little addition to the display, seen from the floor above the information centre
this plaque reads that the edge of the glacier was right there in 1843. I’m guesstimating, but it looked to me like the glacier receded at least 1km since then
hardy glacial plants
one last attempt to capture the majesty I now had to flee…