Athabasca Glacier – Then and Now

 📸 Athabasca Glacier – Then and Now: My 1993 Photos Waiting to Be Found

Back in 1993, I visited the Athabasca Glacier, part of the majestic Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park. It was a powerful, humbling experience — standing at the foot of this massive river of ice, camera in hand, capturing a frozen moment in time.

That was before digital, so I have actual prints tucked away somewhere in my storage. My hope is to come across them soon. They’re probably in one of those boxes I packed and forgot after moving, tucked behind some old books and photo albums.

But I’ve been thinking more and more about them lately. Why?

Because the Athabasca Glacier has shrunk dramatically since then. And my photos — taken over 30 years ago — could now be considered historical evidence of a changing planet.

🧊 What’s Happened Since 1993?

The Athabasca Glacier has retreated by over 400 meters (that’s more than 1,300 feet!) since I was there. That’s enough to completely change the landscape.

Where I once stood right near the toe of the glacier, people now have to hike over dry land to reach what’s left of it. The glacier has lost both length and thickness, and the retreat continues every year — a powerful sign of climate change in motion.

🔍 I Did Some Digging – Here’s What I Found

While I search for my own photos, I decided to do a little research and here’s what I discovered:

📷 Great Resources to See the Glacier's Decline:

Google Earth Timelapse

https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/

Watch Athabasca Glacier shrink from 1984 to today.

NASA Earth Observatory

Search: “Athabasca Glacier site:earthobservatory.nasa.gov” for satellite views and comparisons.

Flickr & Reddit

Search terms like:

"Athabasca Glacier then and now"

"Athabasca Glacier 1993 vs 2023"

🧭 Want More Detail? Try These:

"Athabasca Glacier retreat site:gc.ca" for government climate data.

"Columbia Icefield glacier change report" for scientific research and maps.

Mountain Legacy Project and Glacier Photo Comparison Project are collecting before/after glacier images for educational use.

🕰️ When I Find My Prints...

When I find those prints — and I will — I’d love to scan and share them. Maybe I can even return one day and take a “then vs now” photo. It would be an eye-opening comparison — and maybe even inspire others to reflect on what we’re losing, and how fast.

If you’ve been to the glacier, or have your own old photos, I encourage you to dig them up too. Together, these little snapshots become a visual story of change, one we can’t ignore.

Let’s remember what once was — and act so future generations have something left to photograph.

📌 Have you visited the Athabasca Glacier? Do you have before/after shots? Share your thoughts below — or tag me @Zipolita if you post them.