39

Sunday August 11         Cycling Day 32

     Jasper (Alb) to Columbia Icefields (Alb)

Distance:  (Km). 110

Time:  5:37

Average Speed: (Km/ hr). 19.6

Ascent:  (m).  1456

Heart Rate: (beats / min). 113

Cumulative Distance:   (km). 3533

Cumulative Ascent :  (m).  30,029

Punctures so far : 0

More comfortable in the bed last night. But could get too attached to the leaba.

Breakfast in the hotel restaurant this morning. We have 3 new riders —Ann the wife of Peter G and another couple Tim and Judy Sole. However we are losing two — Judith (Peter McC’s wife took a fall coming into Jasper on Friday and fractured her pelvis (surgery not required) so they stay in Jasper for a few days and then fly home. They were supposed to finish in Banff anyhow.

On my mind very much today was my sister Mary whose first anniversary occurs this week. Lord rest her.

Out of the hotel and onto the relatively deserted streets of Jasper just before 8am.

It was a cold morning with low clouds threatening to destroy our day as far as scenery was concerned. Our route on Highway 93 followed the Athabaska river upstream for the first half of the day. For the next 3 days we’ll cycle down through Jasper and Banff National Parks. Jasper NP was created on 1907 and Banff NP is Canada’s oldest created in 1885. Both have towns unlike the USA. We’re on the Icefields Parkway (300 km) which originally had been a fur traders route and then built as a paved road in 1930’s as work relief. The present road was opened as late as the 1960. No commercial vehicles are allowed on this stretch.

I dropped down to Athabaska Falls after 31 km. These are 25 metre falls through a narrow gorge and the glacier water bearing sand, silt and gravel has worn back the edge over the years.

While there I spotted a young lady posing for a photo on a very risky perch over the falls. And she was in no hurry to leave that spot either. I believe a Park Ranger approached her afterwards and advised her of the danger of her actions.

Another bit of wildlife today. When you see a few cars stopped on both sides of the road up ahead, you guess that someone has spotted an animal. This time it was a black bear just off the road.

Shortly after that we had lunch with a new ‘Dougy’ announcing the spot. He/she will be christened in the next few days. Every bit as welcome as the green Dougy.

Today was another day of climbing especially during the second half. In Jasper we were at 1000 m ASL and this evening we are camping at just over 2000m ASL resulting in it being somewhat colder. But the climbing was on good roads with wide shoulder, but it still demanded turning those pedals. Again the longest steepest climb came almost at the end of the day.

After lunch we cycled along by the Sunwapta River (which flows into the Athabaska) and some light blue spots appeared up ahead and the clouds began to break. Skies never cleared totally but now peaks began to appear to the left and to the right. I had some light rain on and off but never got soaked......and it was blowing from behind with that light tailwind. It would seem that our day was saved. This stretch of road from Jasper to Lake Louise (today and tomorrow) is reckoned by National Geographic as ‘One of the World’s Ten Greatest Drives’ ( I.e. on a clear day) the road trip of a lifetime. And I got to see those glaciers. (Tomorrow it will be lakes, I am led to believe)

Tangle Ridge.

First glacier.

 Still plenty to climb.

From 90 km there was a stiff climb up to a higher level with new views and most of the glaciers were to be seen from here.

P

Mount Kitchener 3505m





At one point on the climb there was a Skywalk out ove the canyon. I didn’t bother queueing for it. On a bike you can stop where you wish (unlike motorists) and look down a canyon or over at waterfalls.
Skywalk over a canyon.

The largest by far was the Athabaska Glacier in the Columbia Icefield coming down from Mount Athabaska (3452m) in the Columbia Icefield. Crowds were trekking up the 2 km ,to the very tip of the glacier and out onto a roped section of it indeed. 

Athabaska Glacier

Although  snows pile upto 30 feet each year and changing to a solid river of ice , the toe (front edge) of the Athabaska Glacier is steadily receding year by year due to climate change and is well documented even in school textbooks. It has retreated 2 kms since 1964. Scary!

I cycled on facing Nigel Peak and we’re camped beneath that tonight.

Into camp at 2:30 and selected my spot for the tent and marked by the helmet.  All sunny and bright. But shortly after 5 the clouds moved in and rained all during dinner. Nothing new.

Hoping for a clear day tomorrow for the second part of this fabulous stretch.

Thank Go for the health and thank God for the energy.