Today is the last day of the tour. We left Jasper early morning on the way to the Athabasca Glacier. We had to reach there by 9 am so that we could avoid the large crowds. All through this trip, we had seen glaciers (including the Studfield Glacier we saw from the bus after we left Jasper), but we never got a chance to walk on one. Athabasca Glacier was that rare glacier where people are allowed to walk. The glacier- like all other glaciers- is receding, and we were shown the mark at which it had reached at its peak and where it is now. That was quite a difference. In another 20 years time, we were told, Athabasca Glacier would be no more.
We alighted from our tour bus at the visitor centre opposite at the foothills of the glacier and boarded the glacier service special bus that takes us close to the glacier. From there, we take the special red bus that takes us on the glacier. The wheels of this red bus are huge that enables the bus to walk- it looked more like crawling than walking- on the bus. At one point, the road's descent (or ascent, depending in which direction you re going) seemed rather steep. It reminded me of Hong Kong's peak tram.
Walking on the glacier was fun. On the way to the top- in the red bus with giant wheels- we spotted a large group of men and women who were hiking all the way up to the glacier. The bus driver told us that there is only a designated area on the glacier for people to get off and walk as the ice is weak on many areas. If you step on such places, the ice may give in and you sink inside and drown in icy cold waters down below. That's scary!
After a brief lunch halt, we visited the last lake of the trip, the Peyto lake. Unlike the Moraine lake which had an unmistakable greenish hue, the Peyto lake had a dark blueish hue. It was one of the prettiest lake I had ever seen. It was also our tour guide Robyn's favourite lake and we finally saw the lake she was talking about throughout the trip. And I could see why she loved the lake so much. The star like shape the lake shore had taken on one end was very interesting.
That done, we headed back to Calgary from where we had started the trip. This time, we stayed opposite the Calgary international airport. In the evening, we had our farewell dinner with our friends, followed by a good night's sleep.
End of a very memorable Gate1 trip of the Canadian Rockies and I left for Victoria the next day, on my own, with very fond memories.
--------------------------- xxx ---------------------------
 |
| Athabasca glacier |
We alighted from our tour bus at the visitor centre opposite at the foothills of the glacier and boarded the glacier service special bus that takes us close to the glacier. From there, we take the special red bus that takes us on the glacier. The wheels of this red bus are huge that enables the bus to walk- it looked more like crawling than walking- on the bus. At one point, the road's descent (or ascent, depending in which direction you re going) seemed rather steep. It reminded me of Hong Kong's peak tram.
 |
| The red glacier bus that takes us onto the Athabasca glacier |
Walking on the glacier was fun. On the way to the top- in the red bus with giant wheels- we spotted a large group of men and women who were hiking all the way up to the glacier. The bus driver told us that there is only a designated area on the glacier for people to get off and walk as the ice is weak on many areas. If you step on such places, the ice may give in and you sink inside and drown in icy cold waters down below. That's scary!
 |
| Athabasca glacier |
 |
| Lake Peyto |
End of a very memorable Gate1 trip of the Canadian Rockies and I left for Victoria the next day, on my own, with very fond memories.
--------------------------- xxx ---------------------------
Canadian Rockies: Days 11-13 (Vancouver)
Canadian Rockies: Day 11 (Victoria whale watching)
Canadian Rockies: Day 10 (Victoria)
Canadian Rockies: Day 9 (Jasper)
Canadian Rockies: Day 8 (Jasper)
Canadian Rockies: Day 7 (Lake Loiuse)
Canadian Rockies: Day 6 (Banff national park)
Canadian Rockies: Day 5 (Banff)
Canadian Rockies: Day 4 (Glacier National Park)
Canadian Rockies: Day 3 (Waterton)
Canadian Rockies: Days 1 and 2 (Calgary)
