As recently as a century ago the glacier you see on the center left extended across the valley to where the Brewster "Sno-coaches" board their passengers today. This is quite a dramatic retreat. At this time the glacier is receding at a rate of 15 feet per year.  Sometime over the next centuries the glacier will probably disappear altogether but not before releasing billions of gallons of water into the rivers that flow to three oceans from here.

This glacier is just one arm of the massive Columbia Icefields which are the largest "ice-cube" south of the Arctic Circle. They cover 130 square miles and are up to 1,000 feet thick. The Columbia Icefields are comprised of 6 main glaciers; Athabasca Glacier - by far the easiest to access Saskatchewan Glacier - Drive a few kilometers south (in Banff National park) you can hike to Parker Ridge for views Stutfield and Dome Glaciers - are visible as you approach on the Icefields Parksay from the north Columbia and Castlegar Glaciers - are remote and difficult to reach

Don't forget your sunglasses up here!!