Icefields Parkway

Countdown:  37 days until departure for Alaskan Adventure

On our way to Alaska there is a stretch of road 144 miles long (232 km) that parallels the Continental Divide and goes right through the heart of the Canadian Rockies.  Connecting Banff to Jasper, The Icefields Parkway, also known as Highway 93, traverses some of Canada’s most stunning vistas, (at least that’s what I’ve been told :))  In the summer, 100,000 vehicles a month travel this route.  

 I’m most excited about seeing the turquoise waters of Peyto Lake.  The color is caused by all the glacial rock flour(tiny particles of rock that have been ground to a flour-like consistency by the glaciers), that washes into the lake in the summer.  These particles are suspended in the water and reflect the turquoise color.

I have a feeling on this drive I will be snapping pictures every few seconds.  I know it’s silly to try to capture the beauty of a place like this.  It never works.  When I look at my pictures later, something is always missing.  The immense power of the landscape never comes through. But I will fill up my phone with pictures anyway.   

Here are a few pictures of what we will hopefully see on this route.

Captivating waters of Peyto Lake from Wikipedia Commons

Columbia Icefield from Wikipedia Commons

Kathy :)