Our Expertise
Checking In
The expertise begins on the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre. After check-in, you may seize meals at one of many eating places, choose up some presents, or learn the interpretive shows to be taught extra in regards to the space’s geology, nature, and wildlife.
We first checked into the resort to drop our baggage off. Then we picked up lunch on the Chalet, a cafeteria-style restaurant. Jacob normally goes with the protected guess, whereas I like experimenting with my meals decisions. Why not have enjoyable with it? As a result of 90% of the time, it backfires. When you’re ordering one thing right here, Jacob’s rooster tenders with fries had been the only option, particularly because the fries had been precisely how we appreciated them.
After ending our meals, we lined up for the bus.
Native Tip: No restrooms can be found in the course of the expertise, so make sure you go earlier than you permit!
ATHABASCA Glacier
The bus journey is a brief one from Discovery Centre. It takes you throughout the road to the glacier’s base, the place you switch to an Ice Explorer. These large transport autos appear like one thing out of an area film and take you safely onto the glacier. There are solely 23 on the earth, one in Antarctica and the remaining on the Columbia Icefields.
Photograph Tip: There are many home windows alongside the aspect and the roof so you may benefit from the views as you go, and if you happen to’re hoping to shoot pictures and video, get a row the place the window can open so you may shoot with no glare.
After arriving on the glacier, your driver offers you the time to fulfill again on the Ice Explorer, and also you’re free to roam. We had about 25 minutes on the glacier, which was a lot.
There may be an space roped off the place you may roam freely. The ropes may be annoying for pictures, however security comes first. Deliver a water bottle so you may style the glacier water.
Native Tip: It’s normally round 27° F (15° C) levels cooler on the glacier than on the Discovery Centre, and it’s typically windy, so pack accordingly! Jacob and Rob had been positively a lot hotter than I used to be of their sleeping bag onesies.
The Columbia Icefield Skywalk
When our time was up, the Ice Explorer took us again to the bus then we rode about 10 minutes north to the Skywalk. The glass-floor Skywalk takes you over the sting of a cliff 918 ft above the valley flooring, the place you may take within the views of the Canadian Rockies.
There are a number of interpretive indicators alongside the brief stroll, and if you happen to’re all in favour of studying extra in regards to the historical past and geology, they’ve guided excursions too! We didn’t do the guided tour however stopped by to take a look at the bones of a Huge Horn Sheep and Mountain Goats..
Not like different Skywalks we’ve been to, we didn’t need to put on any shoe coverings. They ask that you simply wipe them off on the mats earlier than strolling on the glass. We additionally may shoot our personal pictures and stroll at our personal tempo.
After we had been carried out, we headed again in the direction of the car parking zone, the place they’ve buses a number of occasions an hour to select up anybody completed and take them again to the Discovery Centre. You’ll be able to keep as lengthy or as brief as you need!
Native Tip: This season, a household of mountain goats lives beneath the bridge. We noticed one sleeping on the cliffside.
