Canadian Rockies

 The very scenic Icefield Parkway connects Lake Louise in Banff National Park with Jasper in Jasper National Park passing numerous lakes, waterfalls and spectacular glaciers. Many of the bowl-shaped depressions on the mountainside were created by cirque glaciers that eroded rearwards and downwards into the hard rock. When two or more cirque glaciers erode different sides of a summit, they create horn mountain shapes.

As Bow Glacier retreated it left behind moraines that impounded the Bow River, creating Bow Lake. Almost all of the water in Bow Lake is glacial in origin making the lake a vibrant blue.

    

Bow Glacier and Lake                                                       Bowl-shaped glacier valley

From Parker Ridge we viewed the Saskatchewan Glacier flowing from the vast Columbia Icefield which receives almost 6 meters of snowfall annually. Meltwater from the Columbia Icefield feed the Pacific, Atlantic and Artic Oceans.

Vegetation on Parker Ridge is hindered by elevation, cold glacial air, winds, poor soil, avalanches and a northeast direction.

     

Saskatchewan Glacier flowing from Columbia Icefield

The Athabasca Glacier is one of the six principal 'toes' of the Columbia Icefield. Easily accessible, it is the most visited glacier in North America. The glacier currently recedes at a rate of about 16 ft per year. We had previously walked on this glacier with a ranger guide in 1982. It has receded about 1/4 mile since then.

     

Glacier toe in 1982                                                           Glacier toe in 2018

     

Athabasca Glacier                                                                        Glacial striations

 

Maligne River Canyon

Over time the Maligne River has eroded a 2 km long and 55 m deep limestone canyon made deeper each year at the rate of half a centimeter.

   
     

Maligne Canyon Falls                                                                  Limestone canyon

 

Viewing Wildlife

More than 60 lakes, some kettle ponds, are within 15 km of the town of Jasper. During our walk around Lac Beauvert we were amazed to be able to closely watch a loon repeatedly dive for bits of food in the crystal clear water and then feed her young but rapidly growing chick.

 

Loon feeding chick (Photo by Joyce Breach)

 

Mt Robson, British Columbia

The highest peak in the Canadian Rockies is located about 50 miles west of Jasper in Mt. Robson Provincial Park. Making its own weather, the summit of Mt. Robson is usually in the clouds. A very pleasant hike along a roaring river brought us to Kinney Lake at the base of the mountain.

    

Mt. Robson                                                                      Kinney Lake

 

Roaring snow melt

 

Flowers! Flowers! And More Flowers!

    

Death Camas                                                               Sulfur Paintbrush

     

Forget-Me-Nots                                                                Twin Flowers

 

With numerous warnings of bear activity throughout this area, both black and grizzly, we have invested in a canister of bear spray to be carried on our hikes.

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