Inside the Icefield: Technical Information about Ice Explorers

Wildfire Alert: Due to devastating wildfires, the town of Jasper and all Pursuit attractions in the national park are currently closed. For more information, please visit the Pursuit Jasper Wildfire information page. For the latest wildfire information in Jasper National Park, visit the park’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/JasperNP.

The Ice Explorers provides all-terrain mobility to transport up to 56 passengers. Their low-pressure tires are massive! These buses can be used to take people both on road and off-road. They have extra large side and top windows that provide greater all-around visibility. It's a comfortable and thrilling ride!

Dimensions

• Height: 3.86 m (12 ft 8 in) 3.86 m
• Length: 13.0 m (42 ft 8 in)
• Width: 3.61 m (11 ft 10 in)
• Weight: 25,000 kg (55,000 lbs)
• Tare: 19,500 kg (43,000 lbs)
• G.V.W.: 25,000 kg (55,000 lbs)

Powertrain

• Engine
  • Three 1980s vehicles: DDA 6V92TA (DDEC), 253 HP
  • All other vehicles, except refurbished units: Detroit Diesel 60 series (DDEC), 250 HP
  • 2012 to 2017 refurbished units: Mercedes-Benz 240 Series (Tier 3), 330 HP
  • 2018-19 and future refurbished units: Mercedes-Benz 4R/6R 1000 series (Tier 4), 280 HP
• Transmission
  • Clark 34000 Series Powershift
  • Allison 3000/4000 series fully automatic with Transmission Retarder (Refurbished Units)
• Suspension
  • Front: Leaf spring
  • Rear: Walking beam
• Axles
  • Rockwell Drive Steer Planetary front; Rockwell Planetary rear
  • Refurbished units: Axletech MX Series Front Drive Steer and RS series single reduction for rear
• Tires: Alliance Tires 66 x 43.00 x 25
• Brakes
  • Air over hydraulic front drums; air rear drums
  • Refurbished units: Air over hydraulic front disks; air rear drums

Accessibility

One quarter of vehicles in Pursuit's Ice Explorer fleet at the Athabasca Glacier are extra-long, with special wheelchair lifts. They can comfortably carry up to two wheelchairs at a time in addition to the regular 56 passenger seats.