Today is a direct contrast to yesterday with blue skies and about 15 degress warmer. We decide to return back to the Columbia Icefield. Our decision is not in vain for we see mountains that were shrouded in mist all the way. All the snow that had fallen yesterday has gone and the roads are dry. Snow still remains on the top of the mountains and we regularly see glaciers. At the Columbia Icefield the snow that had adorned the steps to the centre has all gone and we can see the Athabasca Glacier. We decide to take the available transportation up to the Glacier. Initially a bus took us up to the edge of the Moraine - the shale/rocks deposited by the Glacier. We are then transferred onto a special vehicle that takes us up to the middle of the Glacier, where we have the pleasure of walking on the ice. This was a really exciting experience. Following the previous days weather the ice was not slippy and we could walk on it quite easily in out hiking boots. We had also prepared ourselves for the cold by having several layers of clothing on. It was quite incredible to be there. At the far edge of the Glacier was the icefield. To one side the guide pointed out that the mountain was a 3 way divide, one of its three rivers going to the Artic, another to the Pacific and the other to the Atlantic, all of which are precious in supplying water and power on their respective ways. You can easily see how much the ice has receded - there are markers showing where the ice has reached. There is an advance during the winter months but it recedes more than it advances by about 10ft during the summer.
This is a wonderous place and we take many photos before moving back to Banff. On the way we stop frequently taking photos. We revisit Lake Louise and walk half way around the lake. We have already seen bears on the way around the lake for the first time we see a chipmunk.
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