#ColumbiaGlacier and the #IceFieldsParkway.

I have  to admit to feeling somewhat embarrassed  that I actually went onto a melting ice glacier, after being repeatedly told by guides that the ice fields are melting at an increased rate due to global warming.

           (It is happening President Trump!)

I wanted to ask why they were still conducting tours of the area, which included huge heavy tractor like trucks with wheels that were taller than me pounding their way across the surface!

The weight of these plus the thirty people inside must have been tremendous and I couldn’t see that this powerful force was doing the ice glacier any good. I’m sure that the National Park service had a good reason for this invasion; maybe the tourism revenue helped to keep the rest of the ice fields intact as well as keeping the park area buoyant.

However, I did step onto the glacier and walked on its slippery surface with many others. And I goggled in amazement at the towering waterfall of ice that was slowly receding in the distance. I marvelled at the sky blue and sparkling silver colours that appeared beneath me as the weak afternoon sun melted the crunchy, crisp ice.

The cool wind blew and tinged my face pink and a quiet drip, dripping could be heard as trickles of pure, transparent water flowed over the freezing waves of compacted ice.

It was exhilarating and exciting to be standing there surrounded by so much ancient beauty but as we drove slowly off the ice I did wonder how long we would be able to do this before the glacier disappeared altogether.
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As I boarded the coach, I felt a little guilty enjoying this experience.
 

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