++ CANADIAN ADVENTURE ++

This is the 29 Nov 2001 edition of this page

                     Chapter Five

	Major Highlight - ATHABASCA  GLACIER 
                      

(8 August 1995)
With the underwhelming visit to Lake Louise now over, I then boarded the coach from near the Lake Louise Chalet. This time it was to depart for the Athabasca Glacier. The coach took us back into the valley that goes from Banff to Jasper for our trip further northwards to where the Athabasca Glacier meltwater starts the River of the same name.

That river then heads towards Jasper. I 'll be going that way later - but I now have a diversion westards into the Mountains.

First, I change from the 'tour' coach, down in the valley, to the 'snow-shuttle' which takes us up in groups, climbing the mountain, to where we would pick up another coach, the 'Snow Coach', when closer to the Glacier, to take us onto the glacier itself!!

This snow-coach was one of a 'set' of bus-sized versions of BIGFOOT with its giant tyres which were really-serious vehicles!! Our driver set off towards another one of the world's receding glaciers - having receeded far enough to make the trip OFF the scree onto the Glacier somewhat of a frightening descent. As we progressed, our driver advised all of us "with a nervous disposition" to "close your eyes down this bit - it's what I always do!!" He was a youngish guide/ driver (probably a student from somewhere!) and took us safely down onto the Glacier - and then went up from the 'tongue' towards the Columbia Icefall and the Columbia Icefield.



The driver also told us that there are only a DOZEN of these vehicles in the World - and that they are ALL here!! The earlier versions cost about $250K - but that the current ones cost 'Half a Million dollars'!! Phew!! They are really something.

These 'beasties' climbed and descended VERY steep slopes to, and on, the Glacier - as well as motoring across it's surface! Impressively, there was a coach-interchange station for changing from the 'snow-shuttle', from below, to these 'MEGA-snowmobiles' near the edge of the glacier. The first snow-mobile 'spectacular' was to descend over the lateral moraine onto the glacier - before dashing along the 'icy-motorway' to the centre of the Athabasca Glacier which is 1000 feet thick there.

Whilst on the glacier, we experienced a wet-snow storm. Partially unprepared for this, I found myself having to be very careful with slippery shoes - without 'treads'!! A quarter of an hour before my departure from the glacier, I managed to take a number of photos on, and of, the location. Furthermore, I took several on the way down, too!
....tyres the size of people....

All the trips (be they on coaches, 'the shuttle' or on the giant snowmobile) saw me sitting and chatting with Vicky Miskelly - a very adventurous and interesting lady.

On the way to Jasper, the group divided in a forest, some of the others wanted to catch their white-water-rafting experience to go downstream. The rest of us carried on to the JASPER NATIONAL PARK to our 'Jasper House' bungalows. These were some attractive chalets in a beautiful green setting by the Athabasca River. Whilst in my sector of this trip in saw, quite closely, a wild black-bear and several Elk by the side of the road, on the edge of a forest somewhat north of Banff..

I took several pictures of the 'rafters' (which included Vicky!) about the time of their 'takeoff' -



and also when their part of the experience took them, on the Athabasca, past the 'Jasper House' bungalows. Having seen our coach's load unpacked, I was a little disturbed about the absence of my case. Somewhat later, it was still not delivered to my chalet-type accommodation!! The 'office' confirmed that I didn't have one unloaded!!! Having found where the dining facilities were, and then, independently in my chalet, comsumed my own private purchases from earlier en-route, I was writing up parts of my stories, when a knock came at the door.

I answered the knock, and there was a young girl with two cases (one mine, one not!) so it looked like normality might have arrived! I then further investigated the facilities of the JASPER HOUSE BUNGALOWS (ie - this place!) and then settled in to further refreshments and the chalet's TV. The latter revealed a nice surprise in that it included a 'laid back' video on what we had experienced today! It also contained quite a lot on Banff and Jasper Parks, glaciers, bears (and coping with them!) and was produced by this 'Bungalow-Complex' - maybe for the benefit and information of us visitors!!

There was 'yet another' video on glaciers in this area and also 'in general'. Apparently, there were FOUR such videos made. I 'turned into bed' at 10.14pm - as they still transmitted more interesting videos.

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