The Columbia Icefield is the largest ice field in North America's Rocky Mountains. The icefield was formed during the Great Glaciation, or Illinoisan period (238,000 to 126,000 BCE). The initial advancement of the ice field ended during the latter millennia of the Early Wisconsinan period (73,000 to 62,000 BCE), around the time Homo sapiens began to appear on the earth. In April 1827, Scottish botanist David Douglas was crossing Athabasca Pass—a major trading route located north of the Icefield—when he climbed one of the adjacent mountain peaks. He reported his first ascent in his journal, describing it to be in height.

In 1900, former British clergyman James Outram came to the Canadian Rockies to recover his health after a nervous breakdown. The following year he made the first ascent of Mount Assiniboine (), then considered the "Matterhorn of the Rockies". During his 63-day visit to the Columbia Icefield, Ostheimer and his two companions walked over a and climbed thirty peaks—twenty-five of which were first ascents.

In March 1932, three men undertook a remarkable skiing journey from Jasper to Banff that covered about . Their accomplishment played a major role in generating worldwide interest in the Canadian Rockies.

See also

  • Columbia Wetlands
  • List of glaciers in Canada

References

Citations

Sources

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File:Snow Dome and skiing the Columbia Icefield.jpg|Snow Dome and the Columbia Icefield

File:Columbia Icefield; Mt. Bryce right, our tent left.jpg|Columbia Icefield; Mt. Bryce right, our tent left

File:Skiing the Columbia Icefield, Doug.jpg|Skiing the Columbia Icefield

File:Skiing the Columbia Icefield, Linda.jpg|Peaks to the West of the Icefield

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  • Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure (Brewster)
  • Columbia Icefield (Bivouac)
  • Columbia Icefield Flickr