The Columbia Icefield lies above route 93 and numerous
fingers of ice slip over the mountain cuts as glaciers.  The Athabasca
is close enough to go out on it.  The toe of it really looks like dirt rather than ice since it has so much ground rock mixed it but cracks, fast running icy meltwater, and occasional calving off of sections remind you that it is really still glacier.  It was just one of those things we had to do when we had the chance.