The Illecillewaet Glacier
Terminus of The Illecillewaet Glacier
September 18, 2023
The Illecillewaet Glacier is found in Glacier National Park, South of Mount Sir Donald, at over 2000m of elevation. Made up of over 8.5 square kilometres of ice, snow and rocks with a mean depth of 100 meters, the Illecillewaet Glacier is no modest feature on Earth's surface. It has been plucking mountain tops and carving valleys for thousands of years through the Columbia Mountains, specifically the Selkirks. Most notable is the resulting Illecillewaet River, which has eroded a massive valley that now serves as a vital passage to incredible mountain views and Western Canada via the Trans-Canada Highway and CP Railroads. If you trace the path of the Illecillewaet River for 62km downstream, you will eventually reach the quaint town of Revelstoke, BC.
Illecillewaet River from Revelstoke, BC - 62km from the terminus
September 15, 2023
Since recently moving across the country to Revelstoke, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed exploring the area’s sensational natural beauty. One particular adventure was a hike on the Pearly Rock trail, where I discovered the source of my new neighbor, the Illecillewaet River, about a 45-minute drive east from my home near the river’s mouth. The day involved a challenging 13.5-kilometer hike with a 1,200-meter elevation gain, reaching over 2,300 meters. To add to the challenge, an intense snowstorm rolled in as we neared the summit. Despite the whiteout conditions, I knew a striking glacier lay somewhere along the alpine plateau. After some time navigating the unmarked terrain, the expansive Illecillewaet Glacier began to emerge through the storm. Once we arrived, the weather cleared, but my camera stayed in my bag a bit longer than usual, as I was entirely captivated by the scene before me. Eventually, I began capturing what felt like endless compositions of the mesmerizing glacier.
