The Athabasca Glacier

The Athabasca Glacier is located in Jasper National Park in Alberta Canada. This glacier is one of the six branches that extends from the Columbia ice field in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The Columbia ice field is the largest section of ice in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Surrounded by the Park's highest peaks, the ice field benefits from the moisture in the Pacific winds. It is common to have 7 meters or more of snowfall every year.

Athabasca Glacier is the most visited glacier in all of North America. This glacier is in continuous motion, moving several centimeters every single day. The glacier spills over three steps in the bedrock, a giant frozen river. Due to warming trends, the Athabasca Glacier has been retreating for over a 120 years. It has lost half its volume, leaving more than 1.5 km of rocky debris in its wake. It currently continues to retreat at 2-3 meters per year. You can follow the date posts to see how far it has receded from previous levels. The glacier melts into the MacKenzie River, which starts as a small trickle and ends eventually in the Arctic Ocean.

Those who wish to visit this glacier will find it easy to find. Located between Banff and Jasper, the glacier is easily accessible. Across from the Athabasca Glacier stands the ice field Interpretive Center. Although the Center is closed during the winter months, it is used as a lodge and visitors can buy tickets there to ride the sightseeing buses that tour the glacier. Regular buses are used to transport visitors to the glacier, where they board special "snow coaches." These coaches can easily travel the snow, ice, uneven terrain and steep grades around the glacier. The tour takes about 1.5 hours, and includes a layman's geology lesson in glaciers and how they develop and recede. Shuttles depart every 15 to 30 minutes.  The ice field Interpretive Center also boasts a gift shop, a restaurant, a cafeteria and restroom facilities.

Athabasca Glacier is around 6 km long, and varies between 90 and 300 meters thick.  Walking the glacier without an experienced guide is very dangerous. Crevasses riddle the ice, creating a dangerous situation for visitors who strike out on their own. Be sure to dress warmly in layers, and wear hiking boots with good traction.

Guided ice walks are available. The guides will make sure you are properly outfitted for your glacial experience, and they will guide you safely over the flowing ice. The walks will show you ice caves and crevasses as well as moraines and millwells. In the longer walk, you will traverse the entire length of the glacier, ending with an ascent into the lowest of three icefalls.

As with all glacial destinations, come armed with warm clothing, your camera, and a sense of adventure. This ice was first formed during the last Ice Age. The mere sense of history frozen in place for such a long period of time has got to affect visitors to a certain degree. So, if you visit the Athabasca Glacier, take a moment to savor the history.