Alaska or Bust: Revisited: Cirrus Mountain to Big Berland, AB: Part 1 (6/20/2017)

Day 7
1964, the Plan: Valley View, AB to Fort Nelson, British Columbia (BC).
1964, the Actuality: On Thursday, July 23, the Explorer Scouts traveled from near Cirrus Mountain, AB to Berland River, AB. Kent reported via postcard that they stopped at the Columbia Icefield where they have cars that go up on the glaciers, but they weren't taking any. It was getting cold, only 40 degrees.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017
We departed from the Icefields Tent Campground to head to Berland River, AB, as we continued up the Icefields Parkway/AB-93.

Morning view at Icefields Tent Campground

1964: Approaching the Columbia Icefield Centre (Dr M)

2017: Approaching the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre

1964: Athabasca Glacier (KSS)

2017: Athabasca Glacier

1964: Parking at the toe of Athabasca Glacier (Dr M)

2017: Parking at the former toe of the Athabasca Glacier

Outhouse and bear-proof trash and recycling containers

1964: Explorer Scouts next to the Athabasca Glacier (Dr M)

2017: Kent next to a remnant of ice

1964: Looking south from Athabasca Glacier (Dr M)

2017: Looking south from the moraine of Athabasca Glacier

We had to go hiking to find the toe of the Athabasca Glacier. It is one of eight glaciers fed by the Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains.

This "bowl" was once filled with ice

The toe was here in 1982, and we still can't see its current position

Looking back from the 1982 position at Tamiko, and farther behind is
the Columbia Discovery Centre where the toe reached in the 1800s (KSS)

Striations left by the glacier dragging rocks across the ground

The toe of the Athabasca Glacier is in sight!

Dirt and gravel covered ice

We continued north on Icefields Parkway/AB-93.

1964: Heading north on Icefields Parkway (Dr M)

2017: Heading north on Icefields Parkway

Oreamnos americanus/Mountain Goat (KSS)

1964: Tangle Creek Falls (KSS)

2017: Tangle Creek Falls

Stutfield Glacier, also fed by the Columbia Icefield

The North Saskatchewan River begins at the toe of the Saskatchewan Glacier (fed by the Columbia Icefield) and
flows generally towards the east to merge with the South Saskatchewan River in the province of Saskatchewan;
the Saskatchewan River ends in Lake Winnipeg in Alberta

Sunwapta Upper Falls (Sunwapta River)

Sunwapta Lower Falls

These rental RVs were very popular!

Icefields Parkway Goats and Glaciers Viewpoint:
no goats or glaciers! (KSS)

Athabasca Falls; teams setting up lifesaving lines?

Lifesaving training? (KSS)

Athabasca Falls (Upper Athabasca River)

Large groups of stopped cars means a wildlife sighting;
but these people were risking danger by leaving their cars to see a bear!
(including allowing the children out of the car!)