Columbia Icefields

We decide to walk up to the Columbia Icefields after seeing the hoards of people waiting for buses for the tour. Rip decides to putter around the Westy - that's his excuse! I stop at the various spots on the way with posted information - they are so smart - with this steep and long hike that feels almost straight up, I am glad to stop and pretend to be fascinated with the information when in reality I am feeling my age and catching my breath! Part of the challenge is the altitude - 6,228 feet to be exact. I make it with a loud "hurrah!". I am in for a shock. There are markers showing where the Icefield was from 1920 to the present. I stand beside the marker for 1992, 2 years before Rip and I were there last and it is a LONG way to the edge of the icefield now. If this is not a wake up call for all of us I don't know what is. It is predicted that in 10 years the Icefield will disappear and who knows what ramifications this will have. Not good. We travel on to Banff and check into our fancy, shmancy hotel - our treat for the trip, the Rim Rock. The views are spectacular and the king size bed feels like a football field after our van bed. Good night!