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OptimImagery

  3. TRAVEL: 2007 through 2011
  4. AUGUST 2009 WA AND CANADA

ALBERTA: BANFF TO ATHABASCA GLACIER

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And, we'll end this album with a nice overview shot. You see Athabasca Glacier and the trail we took to the base of it to your right. Mighty Andromeda Mountain soars just to your left from Athabasca. Between you and the dense stand of trees left of center, you see a bus on the road up to the snow buses. If you look closely at the lower-left portion of Athabasca Glacier, you can even see a snow bus heading out onto this remarkable river of ice.<br /> <br /> After waiting 30 years to return, I still think that this is one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen.<br /> <br /> Join us in our next album as we see cool waterfalls on our journey to Jasper!
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And, we'll end this album with a nice overview shot. You see Athabasca Glacier and the trail we took to the base of it to your right. Mighty Andromeda Mountain soars just to your left from Athabasca. Between you and the dense stand of trees left of center, you see a bus on the road up to the snow buses. If you look closely at the lower-left portion of Athabasca Glacier, you can even see a snow bus heading out onto this remarkable river of ice.

After waiting 30 years to return, I still think that this is one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen.

Join us in our next album as we see cool waterfalls on our journey to Jasper!

canadaalbertajasper national parkathabasca glaciercanadian rockiesvisitor centermount andromeda

  • Of course, once we got to the area where we were allowed to get out of the bus and walk around, it was time to pull out the cameras! You are looking toward Mount Andromeda, and I think that the hanging glacier there is Andromeda Glacier.
  • Our guide said that the water was OK to drink, so we had to try it. Notice the "dirty" look to the ice. This, again, is at least largely due to all the teensie-weensie dust particles, one of which was at the heart of each and every snow flake which fell to make up the glacier. As the ice then melts, those itty-bitty specks congregate on the top to give a dirty appearance.
  • Untitled photo
  • The walking area was cordoned off with cones. The guide and all reading material available emphasized that there are hidden crevasses lurking just outside the safety zone and all over the rest of the glacier. Reportedly, they do occasionally loose people who decide to wander out across the rest of the glacier.
  • Untitled photo
  • Wonderful, fresh, glacier water! Probably better than the Rocky Mountain Spring water use to make beer, right Zac?
  • Sometimes it's as much fun to watch the people as it is to gawk at the awesome scenery.
  • Look at THESE people, for instance! Who WOULDN'T get a kick out of watching THEM?<br /> <br /> The Snow Buses are totally custom built for use on this glacier by the Bombardier Corporation (a Canadian company, and parent of Leerjet). Inflation is significant, in other ways than just these tires: The older ones in the fleet cost only about $750,000. The new ones were a cool $1.2 million each. I guess they want you to know that so that you won't feel like they are gouging you with the ticket prices (which were indeed significant -- but the excursion is well worth it).
  • Back at the snow bus lot. You can see that the next group of tourists is starting down the road to Athabasca. You can also see a couple of snow busses on the glacier (look just behind the one heading down the hill). If you look closely, you can even see there there are 2 parked down on the ice in the distance where we were walking earlier (in that little darker area).
  • And, we'll end this album with a nice overview shot. You see Athabasca Glacier and the trail we took to the base of it to your right. Mighty Andromeda Mountain soars just to your left from Athabasca. Between you and the dense stand of trees left of center, you see a bus on the road up to the snow buses. If you look closely at the lower-left portion of Athabasca Glacier, you can even see a snow bus heading out onto this remarkable river of ice.<br /> <br /> After waiting 30 years to return, I still think that this is one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen.<br /> <br /> Join us in our next album as we see cool waterfalls on our journey to Jasper!

  • OptimImagery

    on September 28, 2009

    Sorry about the need for a coordinated system to leave a comment. It means a lot to me that you persevere and leave comments anyway. And I think you've gotta admit that this is much better than the Kodak site!

  • t

    on September 27, 2009

    ...Bev and I agree, if it weren't for this "spammer-mode" thing-a-mig-bob on EACH and EVERY page, we would be leaving more comments!

    Nice photo's Mark. I can see why this is spectacular. Now, if it takes another 30 years to return, well, maybe it will be a nice place to leave-yer-ashes behind! {or, have you already thought about the bottom of the Marianna'sTrench????} lOl!
    StayWellInTheMeantime will ya:-)
    -(oh, s---T. I just noticed that if I don't manually take the dang 'star' thing off on the next photo I make a comment on, it 'stays-on' til I notice that I goottttta take it off!!!!---[another thing about this site that drives me insane.] Well, the only 'Star' I r-e-a-l-l-y left a 5Star on was the people shot out-on-the-Glacier....everything after that is "good", but, from my 'point-of-obsevation', I really liked all that was going on in that one particular photo.)-

  • BeverLi

    on September 26, 2009

    Thanks for the great memories

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