Hiking on glaciers and coming across wild animals

To venture into the heart of the Rocky Mountains, you must take part in the Columbia Icefield tour: aboard off-road vehicles, you are taken to the geographical starting point of the Athabasca Glacier, a sheet of ice dating back over ten thousand years, before walking along the transparent glass walkway of the Skywalk, where you skirt the icy precipice, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys. Geologists explain, in particular, the history of the Athabasca Glacier, which formed during the Last Glacial Period, and its more recent use as a testing ground for NASA astronauts. Once the glacier exploration is over, you can turn your attention to birdwatching – there are over 311 species in these mountains – and to the flora – an estimated 844 plant species, 74 of which are rare – whilst always paying close attention to signs warning of the possible presence of grizzly bears, wolves, pumas and even the rare wolverines, and carefully following the guidelines in the event of close encounters – which are more frequent than one might think, but never truly dangerous. This distribution of wildlife is due to the presence of three so-called ecoregions within Banff National Park: the montane, subalpine and alpine regions.