Wapta Icefield, Continental ice field in Canadian Rockies, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada
Wapta Icefield is a vast area of interconnected glaciers spread across the Continental Divide in the Waputik Mountains. Several named glaciers flow from this icefield, and five mountain huts operated by the Alpine Club of Canada sit strategically across it to serve mountaineers.
Mountaineers first mapped this icefield in 1932 when McCoubrey and the Neave brothers crossed it on an expedition. This journey marked the start of recorded climbing activity in this remote part of the Canadian Rockies.
The name comes from a Cree language word meaning running water, reflecting how Indigenous peoples understood this glacial landscape and its many streams. Walking across the icefield, you notice water flowing from melting ice in many directions, connecting the old meaning to what you see today.
This icefield is accessible only to experienced mountaineers with proper equipment and good physical fitness. Reserving hut space well in advance is essential, and you need permits from the nearby national parks before planning your crossing.
A prehistoric creature preserved in the Burgess Shale, called Waptia, was named after this icefield. This unexpected link between an ancient sea creature and a modern mountain glacier tells a story of how dramatically the Earth has changed over millions of years.
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