Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, extending over 11,000 square kilometres. I had booked a full-day hike on the Athabasca Glacier and spent nearly seven hours on the ice. Even so we only made it to the first icefall. I would have loved to go further, to explore the crevasses and to see what lies beyond. My hike to Mt Edith Cavell, one of the most beautiful in the park, was cut short by an aggressive grizzly bear. I thought it wise to turn back. I drove the Icefields Parkway, which connects the towns of Jasper and Lake Louise, in both directions and it is indeed a stunning drive.

The mighty Mount Athabasca in Jasper National Park. From the ridge you can tell how far and high the Athabasca glacier once came.

It was a warm day and there were entire rivers of melt water on the glacier. Some sections of the glacier are covered with ash causing it to melt even faster.

More Canada! Banff National Park, the Stanley Glacier trail and the famous Walcott Quarry.

More glaciers! Gornergletscher, Aletschgletscher, Svellnossbreen, Nigardsbreen, Falljökull, Glacier du Tour and the Glacier Trail Felskinn Mattmark.