Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1894-08-02
1laoIkRs OF THE sIERRAs.
r.a,,fornin Has some of JmmsnSe Size and Sh.,.a That Have Dwtntifeea AMnY.


 ca1ifornia offers to strangers and her avn people are the glaciers that lie in tha high sierras that constitute the backbone of the state. The glaciers of ewitzerland attract thousands to that region every season, and 1t would be Interesting to know how many o1 these Amerieap glaeier-seekers are aware that some of the most remark able glaciers in the world are in Amer ica. The California ice rivers found in fine Sierra Nevadas are not remarkable for their size, but are, nevertheless, 4vnical glaciers, and taken with the fine scenery of the mountains well re- pay the climbing that is necessary to observe them.
 If one could ascend in a balloon from the summit of Mount Shasta a most in- teresting series of glaciers would be observed radiating from the central neak. and even while standing on the cone three may be followed with the eve. 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, e Shasta has been terrific volcano, and the canyons of it's Hanks 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 small
 IL. !, k, 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 a spur to the west extending in mo- raine at about 9,150 feet above the sea.
 This glacier is three-quarters of mile long, and covers an area of about 2.0O0, GOO 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 not the case; they are true glaciers, ex x,osed 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 surmount. Crossinga a ridge to the east of Whitney glacier we see the Polam glacier reaching down from the summit in d northeast erly direction. At the summit it ap- pears separated by sinuous ledge of -s-. ., numerous jagged peaks It is particu= 1arly 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 nifcent Assure 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 500, GOO square yards. Its terminal moraine lies about 5000 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 10000 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 3 northeast direction from the summit. 1t is wide and fan-shaped, it's foot end- ing in a terminal moraine l0,500 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 neye 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 50 or 60 feet in height. These are typical of glacial ice, assum- ing rich opalescent blue colors we'll 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 fa- nous glacial wells filled with blue b1utSu WdIef. 1tOIluln IS aDOuU d Iune and quarter in length, and has an area of 9,60o,00o square feet.
 Following round Hotlum glacier we come to the southeast tongue, which is 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 glacial stream, forming Wintun falls, about 5000 feet above the level of the sea. Of all the Shasta glaciers Wintun is perhaps the most re- snarkable. Here are 6,0oo,000 square feet of gigantic flag berg reach ing to an unknown depth, three-quar- ters of a mile wide and nearly two miles in length. It's rate of movement has not been tested, but a glance at the surface shows the terrific power that is forcin the ice on and on. In its descent the glacier forms series O. magnificent cascades, the volcanic rock beneath the ice never forcing it upward The glacier finally enters a narrow rocL-boudd canyon with high walls, and for a long distance is GOV cred with rocks that are constantly fly ing down from the sides of the preci-