Banff, Canada - Columbia Icefield Glacier Tour 8/3/22

Itinerary:

Noon - Drive from Banff (2 hr 15 min)

230 pm - arrive (get there 30 min before tour starts)

3-430pm - tour (2 1/2 hrs)

Directions: Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure, Athabasca Glacier, Icefield Parkway, Jasper NP

Cost: $90-$100 for Glacier and Skywalk Tour (reserve online before - YOU HAVE TO CALL IN ADDITION TO SCHEDULE YOUR TIME. Phone number will be on your emailed ticket. If you miss your time, you can call back and schedule another one within a few days.

Activity:

Glacier Tour - Columbia Icefield Glacier Tour and Skywalk ($90-100 - reserve online, walk on

glacier and drink glacier water, skywalk above gorge, get to Columbia Glacier

Center tour area 30 min EARLY, no bathrooms, 2 1/2 hr tour) Take shuttle to glacier

buses (10 min drive). Take glacier buses up and onto the glacier (20 min) -

including the steepest section (30+ degree slope) of dirt road in Canada. You get

about 30 min to run/slide around about a 1/4 football field area with a small

glacial stream on both sides and the buses below you. Great view of glacier above.

Bring a water bottle to capture your glacial water or drink it right from the freezing

stream. The buses provide some walking sticks but only a few and they are first

come, first serve. Best option was bringing your own microspikes (not provided,

even though they said they did provide). Dress for cold wind (special glacial winds)

and precipitation (jeans are no fun when they get soaked), and waterproof boots

(the glacier is melting and some spots are slushy to several inches of glacial

water).

Glacier Hike - FREE. Hike to Toe of the Athabasca Glacier (1.8 mi total out and back, can't touch

glacier - about 100 feet away), Trailhead (about 1 1/2 hrs)

Gear: Waterproof boots, synthetic/hiking pants, long sleeve synthetic shirt, fleece jacket, waterproof jacket, winter hat, gloves, microspikes, waterbottle (for glacier water)

Glacier Tour

Glacier Hike