Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-08-24
GLACIERS In THE WEST.
THE VAST ICE FIELDS OF THE
SIERRAS.
California Has Some of the Most Re :
markable Frozen II the
Wor1d-We1Is of Blue Water.


Call, are the glaciers that lie in the
high Sierras that constitute the back
bone of the State. The glaciers of
Switzerland attract thousands to that
region every season. and it would be
interesting to know how many of these
American glacier seekers are aware
that some of the most remarkable
glaciers in the world are in America.
The California ice rivers found in the
Sierra Nevadas are not remarkable for
their size, but are, nevertheless, typi-
cal glaciers, and, taken with the fine
scenery of the mountains, will repay
the climbing that is necessary to OBJ
serve them. If one could ascend in
balloon from the summit of Mount
Shasta most interesting series of
glaciers would be observed radiating
from the central peak, and even while
standing on the cone they may be fol-
lowed with the eye, one being about
four miles in length, with an average
width of three to four miles. Imagin-
ing ourselves poised above the peak,
we see below the sharp summit Ia, 511
feet high, and on the left Shastina
crater. In old times, geographically
speaking, Shasta has been terrific
volcano, and the canons of its flanks
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
Whitney glacier, that winds away
from the summit to the west, sending
small glazier to the south, encom-
passing the Red Rocks, near the Sis
sons 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 spur to the
west extending in a moraine at about
915O feet above the sea. The glacier
is three quarters of mile long and
covers an area of about 5000 square
yards. 1t is an interesting fact that
in nearly all the old descriptions of
Shasta the writer's appear to have
taken these glaciers as simple deposits
of snow that lie in the deep canons
and SO last. But such is not the case /;
they are true glaciers, exposed to the
sun for three-quarters of the year.
The view up Whitney glacier is grand
and impressive, showing great tissures
and crevasses, deep s@ncugh to be ex-
tremely dangerous in crossing and re-
quiring no little Alpine climbing to
surmount.
Crossing a ridge to the east of
Whitney glacier, we see the Polam
glacier reaching down from the sum-
init in a northerly direction. At the
summit it appears separated by q
sinuous ledge of volcanic rock, and
below is pierced by numerous jagged
peaks. 1t is particularly noticeable
for it's 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 10, 900 feet-a magnificent
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 half
miles in length, and has an ice area
of about /, 800, 900 square yards. Its
terminal moraine lies about 10, 900
feet above the sea. From the slopes
of this glacier an idea of the grandeur
of Shasta may be derived. To the
northwest it stretches away in a
majestic slope for sixteen miles. To
the southwest the descent is 200
feet in eight miles. Passing over a
dividing peak, IL, 05S feet above the
sea to the east, Hotlum glacier is
reached, which extends in northwest
direction from the summit. 1t is wide
and fan-shaped, its foot ending in a
terminal moraine 10, 500 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 fifty or sixty feet in
height. These are typical of glacial
ice, assuming rich opalescent blue
colors we'll worth the climb to enjoy.
The crevasses here are deep and dan
gerous. and from them issue strange
sounds, caused by the melting and
downward motion of the icy monster.
Here are tie famous glacial wells,
filed with blue tinted water. Hotlum
is about a mile and quarter in
length, and has an area of $500, 600
square feet. Following round Hot
lum glacier we come to the southeast
tongue, whice is called Wintum gla-
cier, and which appears to reach down
farther than any of the others, send
ing a narrow limb into deep canon.
From its lower end rushes a glacial
stream, forming Wintum Falls, about
5000 feet above the level of the sea.
OF all the Shasta glaciers Wintum Is
perhaps the most remarkable. Here
are 5000, 900 square feet of ice--a
gigantic fiat berg reaching to an un'
known depth, three-quarters of mile
wide and nearly two miles in length.
Its rate of movement has not been
tested, but glance at the surface
shows the terrific power that is fore