Which season is best?

As the season began this year, I was thrilled to be taking groups to the Columbia Icefields.  Lonely Planet describes the Icefields Parkway as the #1 Most Scenic Drive in the World. It was late May and that’s when you’re most likely to see bears along the way, so I was pretty excited.  We regularly saw black bears, grizzlies, sows with cubs, adolescent pairs … it was wonderful to watch and the scenery was spectacular.  Obviously spring is the best time of year to go.

 As spring turned to summer the bears were fewer but warmer weather opened up new opportunities to enjoy the area.  Alpine picnics on warm summer days while we watched mountain goats on the cliffs, perfect Rocky Mountain reflections on calm aquamarine lakes, waterfalls bursting with the full load of meltwater produced by the warmth of the sun, wildflowers exploding into bloom with endless, brilliant displays of Indian Paintbrush, Fireweed, and Mountain Daisies.  I had to admit, it was even better than bears!  Now I knew for certain that summer is the best time of year to go.

Last week we had our first snowfall and there’s no doubt, fall is in the air!  So when I left for the Columbia Icefields, I felt sad because I know the season is coming to a close.   But what I didn’t know was that the Icefields Parkways is alive with fall colors that are unbelievably beautiful!  Alpine meadows filled with brilliant harvest colors, multiple shades of red spilling down avalanche slopes, columns of green coniferous forests interspersed with bright yellow bands of Balsam Poplar. And the mountains … oh so beautiful with fresh snow highlighting the magnificent rock faces. So for now, I remain convinced that fall is the best time to go.    

But next spring when I see the first grizzly sow of the season with her new little cubs, my thoughts on the matter will likely change again.  I guess every season is the best time of year to go to the Columbia Icefields, and I never tire of it.

Submitted by Marci Livingstone - Interpretive Guide - Discover Banff Tours