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June 20, Thursday

We rented a car to drive up the Icefield Parkway to see the Columbia Icefield and glacier, and the beauty of mountains and lakes along the way.
banff620 4 image of upper ice.JPG
In this aerial photograph, the arrow points the the Columbia Icefield, which is essentially a combination of several glaciers. 

The bottom of the glacier is called the "toe."
Lacking a helicopter, we couldn't actually see the icefield, but its location is indicated by the arrow
banff620 1 in front of glacier.JPG
banff620 18 glacier from TM.JPG
This exhibit from the area shows how the glacier has been receding over the last hundred years or so
banff620 2 diagram of glacier receeding.JPG
For more of a ground eye view, this marker indicates the location of the toe of the glacier in 2006, which isn't that long ago. 
(I wasn't there then.  I'm taking their word for it.)
banff620 3 me at 2006 marker.JPG
However, the good news:

Merle found her own "child sized" glacier.
banff620 5 TM w child sized glacier.JPG
We left in the am to beat the traffic to get to the glacier, but on the way back stopped at several locations to marvel at the awesome mountain scenery.
banff620 6 us w amazing mts near glacier.JPG
banff620 7 near wall of rock w sm waterfalls.JPG
Waterfalls down giant rock walls.

Just like in Albany, GA

:)
Bow Lake
banff620 16 Bow lake from TM.JPG
banff620 12 us at Bow lake.JPG
banff620 17 Bow lake from TM.JPG
Waterfowl Lake
banff620 8 mts lake waterfowl.JPG
At this lake, Merle even notices some actual waterfowl

(or as she calls them, "lake chickens.")
banff620 9 TM even sees waterfowl.JPG
Next stop:  Peyto Lake
banff620 11 us at Peyto.JPG
banff620 10 TM at Peyto.JPG
That trip was a lot of driving (though we also did a drive by visit for another local town called Canmore).  After returning to Banff, we rested a bit and then went at dusk to see if we could see any wildlife. 
We were able to see some mountain goats.  Probably better than wondering if we remembered to bring bear spray.
banff620 14 more mountain goats.JPG
banff620 15 mountain goats.JPG
banff620 13 mountain goats.JPG
Links to other pages: 
June 17
June 18
June 19
June 21
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