Our Expertise
Checking In
The expertise begins on the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre. After check-in, you possibly can seize meals at one of many eating places, choose up some presents, or learn the interpretive shows to be taught extra concerning the space’s geology, nature, and wildlife.
We first checked into the lodge to drop our luggage off. Then we picked up lunch on the Chalet, a cafeteria-style restaurant. Jacob often goes with the secure guess, whereas I like experimenting with my meals selections. Why not have enjoyable with it? As a result of 90% of the time, it backfires. In case you’re ordering one thing right here, Jacob’s rooster tenders with fries have been your best option, particularly for the reason that fries have been precisely how we favored them.
After ending our meals, we lined up for the bus.
Native Tip: No restrooms can be found through the expertise, so make sure you go earlier than you permit!
ATHABASCA Glacier
The bus trip 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 to be one thing out of an area film and take you safely onto the glacier. There are solely 23 on the planet, one in Antarctica and the remainder on the Columbia Icefields.
Picture Tip: There are many home windows alongside the facet and the roof so you possibly can benefit from the views as you go, and when you’re hoping to shoot images and video, get a row the place the window can open so you possibly can shoot with no glare.
After arriving on the glacier, your driver provides you the time to satisfy again on the Ice Explorer, and also you’re free to roam. We had about 25 minutes on the glacier, which was lots.
There may be an space roped off the place you possibly can roam freely. The ropes may be annoying for images, however security comes first. Deliver a water bottle so you possibly can style the glacier water.
Native Tip: It’s often 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 have been undoubtedly 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 toes above the valley ground, the place you possibly can take within the views of the Canadian Rockies.
There are a number of interpretive indicators alongside the quick stroll, and when you’re excited by studying extra concerning 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 must 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 images and stroll at our personal tempo.
Once we have been carried out, we headed again in direction of the parking zone, the place they’ve buses just a few instances 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 quick as you need!
Native Tip: This season, a household of mountain goats lives below the bridge. We noticed one sleeping on the cliffside.
