Waputik Icefield

Glacier in Canada
Skiing up the Waputik to Mt Balfour

The Waputik Icefield is located on the Continental divide in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, in the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. It is developed on the heights of the Waputik Range in the Central Main Ranges.

The icefield is shared by Banff and Yoho National Parks and numerous outlet glaciers extend from the icefield. Runoff from the Waputik Icefield provides water for numerous lakes, streams and rivers including Hector Lake, and the Bow, Kicking Horse and Yoho Rivers. Runoff from the Daly Glacier feeds Takakkaw Falls.

The icefield encompasses 40 km2 (15 miles²) and is located 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Lake Louise, on the west side of the Icefields Parkway.

The icefield is easily accessible by mountaineers in both the summer and winter. Both ski trips in the winter and glacier hiking trips in the summer often combine a traverse of this icefield with a trip across the Wapta Icefield directly to the north.

Glaciers

The following glaciers are part of this icefield:

  • Waputik Glacier
  • Diableret Glacier
  • Glacier des Poilus
  • Emerald Glacier
  • Bath Glacier
  • Niles Glacier
  • Balfour Glacier
  • Daly Glacier
A panoramic photo of the Waputik Icefield taken from the Scott Duncan Hut in 2005

Huts

There are two huts operated by the Alpine Club of Canada which are accessible from this icefield:

  • Scott Duncan Hut[1]
  • Balfour Hut[2]

See also

  • List of glaciers

References

  1. ^ Scott Duncan Hut
  2. ^ R.J. Ritchie (Balfour) Hut
  • Bivouac.com. "Waputik Icefield". Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2006-07-03.

External links

Media related to Waputik Icefield at Wikimedia Commons

  • v
  • t
  • e
Canadian Rockies
RangesMountains
PassesGlaciersRivers
see List of rivers of the Canadian Rockies and Category:Rivers of the Canadian Rockies
Peoples
Parks and protected areas
International
National
Provincial (AB)
Provincial (BC)
Ski resortsCommunitiesEcozone and ecoregions
See also
Geography portal
Canada portal
Authority control databases: National Edit this at Wikidata
  • Israel
  • United States

51°34′N 116°27′W / 51.567°N 116.450°W / 51.567; -116.450


Stub icon

This article about a location in the Interior of British Columbia, Canada is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e
Stub icon

This article about a glacier in Canada is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e
Stub icon

This Alberta's Rockies location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e