The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-02

the summit OF Mount Shasta a most in.
teresting series of glaciers would be
observed radiating from the central
peak, and even while standing on the
cone three may be followed with the
eye, one being about four miles in
length, with an average of width OF
! three or four miles. Imagining our
selves posed above the peak we see be-
low the sharp summit 14,511 feet high.
and on the left Shastina crater In
old times, geographically speaking,
Shasta has been terrific volcano, and
the canyons of its TANKS are cut
into the lava deposits of ages The
greatest glaciers seem to reach to the
north and east. Reaching down into
the Shastina crater is the Mount Whit
ney glacier, that winds away from the
summit to the west, sending a small
glacier to the south. encompa sSing the
Red rocks. near the Sissons trail From
the ridge that reaches down southwest
and on the north side are seen six or
eight small glaciers. The Whitney
turns to the north, and after throwing
d spur TO the west extending in a mo-
raine at about $3.50 feet above the sea
This glacier is three-quarters of a
mile long, and covers an area of about
1000, 900 square yards. It is an inter
esting fact that in nearly all the old
descriptions of Shasta the writers ap-
pear to have taken these glaciers as
simply deposits of snow that lie in the
deep canyons and so last. But such is
rot the case; they are true glaciers, ex-
posed TO the sun for three-quarters of
the year. The view up Whitney glacier
| Is grand and impressive. showing
| great assures and crevasses deep
enough to be extremely dangerous in
crossing, and requiring no little AL
| pine climbing to surmNunt. Crossing
| ridge to the east OF Whitney glacier
we see the Polam glacier reaching
! down from the summit in northeast
erly direction. At the summit it APP
| pears separated by a sinuous ledge of
volcanic rock, and below is pierced by
numerous jagged peaks. It is particu-
larly noticeable for its terminal moraine
"a mass of rocks heaped up, the result
! of the crushing force of the ice river.
There is one extremely deep crevasse
at the altitude of 10000 feet-a mag
nifeent fissure reaching down deep into
the heart of the glacier. Below this
there is succession of deep chasms.
The entire glacier is about one and a
half miles in length, and has an ice
area of about 1,sO0, 900 square yards.
Its terminal moraine lies about 1000
feet above the sea. From the slopes of
this glacier an idea of the grandeur OF
Shasta may be derived. To the north
west it stretches away in a majestic
slope for sixteen miles. To the south
west the descent is 10, 600 feet in eight
miles.
Passing over a dividing peak. 11.05s
feet above the sea to the east, Hotlum
glacier is reached. which extends in a
northeast direction from the summit.
1t is wide and fan-shaped, its foot end
ing in terminal moraine 10000 feet
above the sea. AT night all is still on
the glacier, but at MONDAY, when the
heat of the summer sun is felt, myriadS
of streams find their way down, cutting
the glacier and making passage often
dangerous.
The neve of Hotlum, or the upper
portion, has two conspicuous ice
streams that flow through it. One in
particular is forced between two rocky
buttresses and SO shattered that the
ice assumes the appearance of lofty
pinnacles so or 60 feet in height.
These are typical of glacial ice, assum-
ing rich opalescent blue colors well
worth the climb to enjoy. The crew
asses here are deep and dangerous, and
from them issue strange sounds, caused
by the melting and downward motion
of the icy monster. Here are the IA
nous glacial wells, filled with blue
tinted water. Hotlum is about mile
and a quarter in length, and has an
area of g. 600 600 square feet.
Following round Hotlum glacier we
called Wintun glacier, and which ap-
pears to reach down farther than any
of the others. sending a narrow limb |
into deep canyon. From its lower
end rushes a glacial stream, forming
WintGu falls. about 5000 feet above 4
the level of the sea. OF all the Shasta |
glaciers Wintun is perhaps the most re- /
markable. Here are 5000. 900 square .
feet of ice-a gigantic flag berg reach /
ing to an unknown depth, three-quar-
ters of a mile wide and nearly two l
miles IN length. It's rate of movement /
has not been tested, but Il glance .
at the surface shows the terrific .
power that is forcing the ice on and on.
In its descent the glacier forms a series
OF magnificent cascades, the volcanic
rock beneath the ice never forcing it
The glacier finally enters a
narrow rock bound canyon with high
walls and for a long distance is cow
cred with rocks that are constantly fly
ing down from the sides of the preci-
pice. In summer il is dangerous to APP
proach the sides of the canyon, a. rocks
are rolling down constantly. The gla-
cier reaches down to 5000 feet above
the sea. and from the lower portion
makes a true glacial river of yellow
mud finally leaping cliff 400 feet
high.
Directly to the south lies Kounalliton
glacier, that ends on the 1900 foot
level It also has glacial river which
gives rise 70 a fall 800 or 800 feet IN
height. These glaciers are certainly
not increasing in size. and are the re-
mains Of what were verita bic ice giants
IA days gone by. wen repaying n. e.
fort necessary to reach them
The glaciers on Shasta, like others,
are simply the result OF fall Of snow
IN excess of melting. the snow sccu-