Crevasses or deep cracks in the glaciers form as the ice is subjected to uneven glow over alpine terrain. There is no great advance of Olympic glaciers today, but there is not a rapid melting back of ice either. Forward surges in glacial flow often occur after a number of very heavy winters and cool summers, but such activity has been relatively infrequent with Olympic glaciers in recorded time. The climate influencing Olympic glaciers is wet and temperate. This is clearly shown in the Mount Olympus complex of glaciers which receive the full impact of Pacific storms.
Snow nurtures the glaciers in the accumulation zone or at the origin of the ice.
As with human finance management, glaciers work with a budget and expenditure plan. A vigorous glacier will be maintained by a heavy accumulation of snow in the winter and only average melting during the summer. The freezing point in late spring and precipitation in early fall appear to be critical items in relation to this gain and loss. Excessive melt before and after the normal melt season would result in impoverished budget for the following year. The movement of glacial ice, past and present has produced striking geological features in the Olympic mountains.