Grinnell Glacier in 1910/Fred Kiser photo, courtesy of Glacier National Park Archives
With the possibility that Glacier National Park will be glacierless by as soon as 2020, are you moving up your plans to visit the park?
That seems a reasonable question, both in light of recent weather patterns, warming temperatures, and the ability to glimpse a glacier upclose without traveling to Alaska. Not too many years ago scientists were predicting that Glacier's glaciers would be meltwater by 2030. But now they're moving the date up, to around 2020, due to the heightened pace of warming.
According to a story that ran on National Geographic's website in September 2013, "Since 1900, the mean annual temperature in Glacier National Park has increased by 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 degrees Celsius)'1.8 times the global mean increase. Snowmelt is occurring up to a month earlier, and more precipitation is falling as rain rather than snow." And while one year does not make a trend make, snowfall this winter is running behind in Glacier, as is the snow water equivalent in that snowpack.
So, with the possibility that the park's glaciers will vanish in another five years, are you thinking of moving up your trip to Glacier?
Grinnell Glacier in 2008./Lisa McKeon photo, USGS
Comments
Yes, we can endlessly allow some people to try to divert attention from the real issues by setting up endless circular arguments that accomplish nothing or we can work toward finding the innovations that will actually help us solve the problems.
Read Debbie Ackerman's book and then get back to us. I know it will take a little effort, but y'just might actually learn something if you would just take a chance and step out of the echo chamber.
I'll be visiting Glacier Bay and Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau this summer. I'll be interested to learn how those glaciers' stories compare to the histories of glaciers in the lower 48.
Another strawman. How have I tried to "divert" attention. By pointing out the facts?
Explain just one thing: If we are as innovative as you say we are, why aren't we Americans leading the world in innovations? Why are we trailing nations like Norway, Canada, China, India, Bangladesh and even some of those insignificant little places in Central Africa when it comes to innovation?
What does this have to do with glaciers in Glacier? A lot. The glaciers of the world are just one of many coal mine canaries (pun intended) that are trying to warn us to stop resisting progress and arguing against everything in the world and start seeking solutions. Our lack of leadership in seeking those solutions will cause us to lose American business, research and development, and manufacturing in the field of alternate energy and all the American jobs that could go with it.
Now it's time to go enjoy a sunny Sunday where most of the snow has melted from our mountain trails.
Lee - we too plan on a trip to Glacier Bay NP at some point this summer; hope to see you there. Mendenhall Glacier, in Juneau, is easily accessible and dramatic in scope, although of course photographs from the early 20th century show the changes. Let me know if you get up the Lynn Canal to Skagway. Here, our closest glacier - Harding Glacier, directly in front of my living room window - is covered in a snowfield right now, and through the early summer the snow recedes exposing the remaining glacier underneath. The view dominates town. What is sad is to see how much of it is no longer there.
Lee, I think you would have a hard time arguing that Bangladesh or Canada or any of those others have on the whole generated more innovations than America. But that is beside the point because I am talking about the innovation of man in general not any specific country. Innovations come from all over the world.
Rick, I will be in Glacier Bay only one day -- on the NPS guided boat excursion Wednesday, July 29 departing at 07:00. How I wish I had more money, but this is a poor man's trip. So I booked with Viking Tours out of St. Petersburg. Will ride the Alaska Ferry from Bellingham to Skagway. Take an excursion on the railroad. Then fly to Gustavus for the Glacier Bay trip. From there to Juneau for three days including the trip onto Mendenhall. Finally will fly back to Bellingham.
I could have tried to do it cheaper by trying to wing it and go for the adventure. But I learned a long time ago that adventure usually winds up being more expensive in the end. This is totally unfamiliar territory for me, so it may be more rewarding to let some people with more knowledge help me this first time.
So much world to explore and so little time and money!!!!!
Perhaps I'll be able to buy you a cuppa or a local Spruce Tip Ale when you're in Skagway. Kurt can tell you how to get in touch with me.
Lee - Hope you have a great trip to Alaska. Yes, the glaciers at both Mendenhall and Glacier Bay are definitely worth seeing now, rather than later - dramatic reductions in recent decades. Glad you're going to make the guided boat tour at Glacier Bay!
Our trip was 6 years ago, so info is a little dated, but there are several nice trails at Mendenhall. We enjoyed the East Glacier Loop (3.5 miles; it has a lot of steps on the east side of the loop, so take it going clockwise so all those stairs are on the downhill leg :-)
For breakfast or lunch try the Silverbow Bakery downtown in Juneau. We had a great and reasonably priced lunch, and the bread pudding shouldn't be missed :-)