little tiger on the tramp

Friday, 5 June 2009

Jasper V

My favourite picture of of the lot.

You see the town of Jasper as well as Athabasca River and all Lakes.

Even the ones I did not make it too.

Tibet?

Still covered in snow.

A moon-like seemingly empty place.

With wooden boxes which have a strong resemblance to coffins.

Wow - unfortunately slightly hazy though.

And anons ago the Rocky Mountains where a beach...

One sightseeing train.

Another one.

Do you wanna sing submarine too? ;0)

I decided to take a sightseeing tour back from Jasper to Lake Louise since it is the perfect time and I do not know if I will come back again. Our first stop is Athabasca Falls at 9:30 am.

Athabasca Falls in Jasper National Park is just 23 metres high. However, it is not known for its height. Instead it is known for the force of the falling water due to the quantity of water flowing. Even on a cold morning in the fall, copious amounts of water flow over the falls. A layer of hard quartzite has allowed the falls to cut into the softer limestone below carving the short gorge and a number of potholes.

WOW?!

The hazy spray illuminated by the morning sun from behind.
Wat will man mehr? ;)

Cut through the lime stone like butter.

Tumbling depths.

And another mountain goat which is non.

Cheeky little bugger ey? :)

Our bus with driver Richard.

Coming closer to Columbia Infield.

Athabasca Glacier

Jasper VII

What a day! We had perfect weather.

Even our driver said he recons it was one of the best days of the season.

The Athabasca Glacier is one of the six principal 'toes' of the Columbia Icefield, located in the Canadian Rockies. Due to global warming, the glacier has receded more than 1.5 km in the past 125 years and lost over half of its volume. It currently recedes at a rate of 2-3 metres per year.[1] The glacier moves down from the icefield at a rate of several centimetres per day. Due to its close proximity to the Icefields Parkway, between the Alberta towns of Banff and Jasper, and rather easy accessibility, it is the most visited glacier in North America. The leading edge of the glacier is within easy walking distance; however, travel onto the glacier is not recommended unless properly equipped. Hidden crevasses have led to the deaths of unprepared tourists.

The glacier is approximately 6 km long, covers an area of 6 km², and is measured to be between 90 metres and 300 metres thick.

Jepp the glacier is melting.

See the little 'river' of melt water on the left hand side in the picture.
But even though 60% of the glacier melted, the glacier is only 2% of the mighty Columbia Ice field.

Glaciers are born when snow falls onto of snow year after year without melting. When the snow layer becomes up to 300m thick the lowest layer turns into ice due to the pressure of the layers above.

A special constructed vehicle to operate on the ice safely. Costs up to $1.3 million and only 23 operate worldwide. 22 on the Ice field and one on the north pole.

Ice Ice baby... Ice Age!!!

Tyres big enough to sit in. You get the point?!

mountains formed by wedging glaciers.

One of the first vehicles the operated on the ice.

Yes those guys have come a looong way.

This is the steepest slope in Nothern America which is operated in order to get passengers somewhere... At least that is what they tell you.

Hector Lake is a small glacial lake in western Alberta, Canada. It is located on the Bow River, in the Canadian Rockies.
It is named after James Hector, a geologist and naturalist with the Palliser Expedition.

A special hut next to Bow Lake.

Bow Lake is a small lake in western Alberta, Canada. It is located on the Bow River, in the Canadian Rockies, at an altitude of 1920 m.

Nice.

A trip well worth it.

Sunday, 24 May 2009

Train-bend in the Rockys

My housemates Serena, Jon and I went to this spot which Jon described as beautiful. It was very nice despite the cloudy day even though it appears to be quite dark on the pictures.