May 19, 2011 we crossed the Canadian Border to Lake Louise and up the Icefields Parkway that connects Lake Louise with Jasper NP. It is a stunningly beautiful drive with snow capped mountains the entire way.
We stopped at the Columbia Icefield and took a snow coach up onto the Athabasca Glacier. This snow coach costs $1.5 million. It has a 250 hp Detroit diesel and Allison transmission. It is capable of up to 25 mph but what it can really do is go up and down steep grades.
Our driver and guide, Bruce Freeman, originally from Bradford, PA, gave us a good description of the glacier and of the snow coach. Here we are going down a 32% grade to get out onto the glacier.
Bruce took our picture standing on the Athabasca Glacier which is 1000 feet thick in this area.
The Columbia Icefield is at the top of the Athabasca Glacier, one of 5 glaciers in this area.
Bill got this picture of a big horn sheep lying beside the road just north of the Icefields.
This is a small lake behind the William Schweitzer Provincial Park visitor's center, taken late afternoon. I just love the colors and reflection.
We got the last electric hook up in the park as it was Saturday of their Victoria Day Weekend. It was a tight fit with the little RV. I am so glad we didn't bring the Titanium on this trip! The water lines were still frozen in the park. Glad we filled up earlier.
Leaving Grand Cache and driving towards Grand Prairie, the pine forests give way to Aspen trees as we travel towards the huge farmlands of the Peace Block.
We stopped at the Columbia Icefield and took a snow coach up onto the Athabasca Glacier. This snow coach costs $1.5 million. It has a 250 hp Detroit diesel and Allison transmission. It is capable of up to 25 mph but what it can really do is go up and down steep grades.
Our driver and guide, Bruce Freeman, originally from Bradford, PA, gave us a good description of the glacier and of the snow coach. Here we are going down a 32% grade to get out onto the glacier.
Bruce took our picture standing on the Athabasca Glacier which is 1000 feet thick in this area.
The Columbia Icefield is at the top of the Athabasca Glacier, one of 5 glaciers in this area.
Bill got this picture of a big horn sheep lying beside the road just north of the Icefields.
This is a small lake behind the William Schweitzer Provincial Park visitor's center, taken late afternoon. I just love the colors and reflection.
We got the last electric hook up in the park as it was Saturday of their Victoria Day Weekend. It was a tight fit with the little RV. I am so glad we didn't bring the Titanium on this trip! The water lines were still frozen in the park. Glad we filled up earlier.
It is light until after 10 pm. Tomorrow we should reach Dawson Creek, BC and the start of the Alcan Highway.
Heading north again on Hwy 40 towards Grand Cache we saw this operating coal mine. Coal and timber are the main industries. There are thousands of acres of pine forests on either side of the road for miles and miles.
Heading north again on Hwy 40 towards Grand Cache we saw this operating coal mine. Coal and timber are the main industries. There are thousands of acres of pine forests on either side of the road for miles and miles.
Leaving Grand Cache and driving towards Grand Prairie, the pine forests give way to Aspen trees as we travel towards the huge farmlands of the Peace Block.
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