Back to the Columbia Icefield

Woke up this morning and checked the temperature...minus 4.  We lingered over breakfast but had to leave about 9 when it had warmed up to minus 1.  It was a dark, dull overcast day with every chance of rain.  We planned to travel down the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to the Columbia Icefields.  We'd done it from the south, so we would do it from the north and meet at the middle.  Only 100 kilometres down there.  Set out and pulled in to check out the Athabasca Falls.  These falls are fed from the Glacier at the Columbia Icefields.  Very powerful falls with the erosion into the rocks making an interesting landscape.
From there we kept going to the Icefields.  We stopped at the only spot available, the Sunwapta Falls, about halfway and got a hot chocolate, got back in the car to head south again.  The skys were threatening, instead of raining it started snowing.  It was like being in a dream.  We got to the Icefields visitors centre and there was a real snow storm happening.  We went inside, had lunch.  Ate lunch looking out the window at the snow blowing sideways in the strong winds.
Then Pam did a silly thing.  She suggested we go back out to the glacier in the snow.  I reluctantly agreed, it looked....challenging.  With only four layers of clothing, perhaps it was madness?
Left the cafe and went to the tickets, Pam had a little moment when she realised she'd left her purse in the cafe.  I ran back, through the foyer, pushing my way through the Asian tourists, clambering up the stairs, jumping queues in the cafe and headed straight for the table.  Located two suspicious looking women, who, after intense interrogation, admitted to handing the purse to the cashier.  Got the bag, saved the day. Well done Vernon!!
Got on the bus to the glacier and shivered at the thought of the snow storm ahead.  Pam (the meteorologist), classified it a blizzard and who am I to argue?  The katabatic winds were hostile that day.  Out of the sno-coach and the wind whipped at us and blew the snow into our faces, not sure how to avoid getting hit by the snow.  No matter which way we looked the snow hit us and hurt.  Maybe it was just the freezing conditions.  I was silly enough to be convinced by Pam to have a taste of the water, the doctor tells me the surgery to reattach my fingers will be successful.  Spent 30 minutes on the snow.  In that time the sun managed to come out and give us some special photos.  We took a stack of photos but couldn't really see what we were doing half the time.
It was a special moment having seen it in sunshine, to see it under fresh snow is something we didn't think would happen.  Thanks Canada!!
Slow drive home, took a photo of the skywalk they are building just near the Icefields, it won't be open till next year which is a pain, Pam says we'll have to come back to give it a go.  What a shame.  Thanks Pam!!
Got back to town about 5, had a beer and walked in to town for tea.

Athabasca Falls.

Top of the falls.

Squeezing through to get a better look.

Deep eroded canyon after the falls.

Looking back up at the road.

Just a bit cold on the edge.

Caramel rocks, beautifully shaped.

Wouldn't be a waterfall without a selfie.

The original canyon.

Now too many steps to count.

Another waterfall, Sunwapta Falls, on the road south.

Snow storm at Columbia Icefields.  There is a black speck on the glacier - a sno-coach.

Ready for anything.

How can it change so much in 10 days?

Storm brewing and winds blowing.  Snow cover over everything.

Got to keep my back to the wind.  Photo sort of distorted by snow flakes on the lens.

I don't remember signing up for this?

Kept the snow out of our eyes for one second to take a photo.

Sun trying to break through.

Don't even think about it, can't you see the thin layer of ice.  maybe my brain froze?

Picked up some fresh snow, a bit like handling fairy floss (just a little colder).

Fresh foot prints in the snow.

The sun finally made an appearance, why isn't it getting any warmer?

So much fresh snow after our visit last week.

Mountains blanketed by a fresh snow fall.

To the left of the glacier.

The glacier and to the right of the glacier.

The new attraction, the Skywalk.

Tangle Falls on the way home.

This river originated at the Athabasca Glacier, probably in the little stream I took a drink from.

A grand river in a grand location.  Looking back towards the Athabasca Glacier and Mountain.