Mount Edith Cavell and Angel Glacier
At 11,000 feet, Mount Edith Cavell (named after a British nurse killed in World War I for helping allied soldiers) is one of the most prominent mountains in Jasper National Park. A short drive from Jasper is the "Path of the Glacier Trail," which leads up to Angel Glacier and a small, icy glacial lake.
From the parking lot, the steep trail led uphill with spectacular views back down the valley toward a small lake, with the clouds rolling in. The thickly forested hillsides were dense with tall firs.
It was a short walk before one could see Angel Glacier (below) and its lake.
All around the lake was glacial rubble (moraine), with a stark barren look. There was little plant growth (some scrubby firs), and lots of big rocks.
The lake was a beautiful shade of jade green, and the small mountains of snow cones around the edges were reflected in the still waters.
Below, Tom examines the ice chunks; you can see how sizable some of them were, even on a warm August day.
The glacier itself lies in what is called a "saddle," straddling the mountain. Here you can see the wings of the angel. The bulk of the glacier lies behind this "tongue."