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COLUMBIA ICEFIELD The Columbia Icefield is a 126 square miles (325 square-kilometers) hunk of ice 1200' thick. We're talking one huge chunk of ice. The pressure from the weight of the snow that falls on the icefield compresses the snow into ice. The pressure also pushes the outwards, squeezing it in the form of glaciers through the valley of the surrounding mountains. You can see several glaciers from the highway, but you wont want to stay there long. The tourist center at the icefield replects the size of the glacier...it is huge. Giant multi-floor displays, restaurants, gift shops, and tons and tons of tour bus parking. It's a LOT different than the last time I was there in 1984.
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WILCOX PASS The trailhead to Wilcox Pass is a few miles up the highway from the Visitor Center. You can hike up to Wilcox Pass and return the same way, or contiue on and rejoin the highway on the other side of the pass. The trail is one of the few maintained trails in the area (Parker Ridge is closed for vegitation regrowth due to overuse). Because of its proximity to the Visitor's Center and the lack of other moderate options in the area, Wilcox Pass sees heavy use. The scenery make up for it though.
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