The Wrangell sentinel., 1935-09-13
ENTIRE ICE CAP OF COASTAL
RANGE WILL RETREAT, AS
sERTS HUBBARD AFTER TRIP


entire ice cap that grips the coastal
range of the Canadian and Alaskan
mountains, in a few years is the
prediction of Father Bernard r.
Hubbard, Glacier Priest, who flew
over the entire ice field in a PAA
plane, piloted by Alex Holden, in
an attempt to secure a birds-eye
view of the great ice fields that
first brought him into information
al prominence eight years ago when
he crossed them afoOt, says the Ju-
neau Empire.
The Rev. Hubbard was accompan-
led on his flight by his three aides
and inseparable companions: Edgar
Levin, Kenneth Chisholm and
George Getty.
The Hubbard expedition, which
last Sunday established itself in a
temporary Arctic camp on the ice
cap back of Taku. has for its object
the disproying of the prevailing
scientific theory concerning the
depths of the ice field. The immedi-
ate purpose Of their flight, however,
was the taking of color films to be
used in Father Hubbard's famous
lectures.
Rare Feat
I'VE got 1000 feet of film and 20
dozen beautiful STILLS" said Father
Hubbard. 1T was a perfect day for
the flight. We chose fine weather
and fine pilot for what was really
a most hazardous trip-the flying
over the Bears Claws, a feat never
before accomplished, although a few
pilots have flown around them"
Father Hubbard's statement con-
corning the retreat of the glaciers
was made after a careful examina-
ton by air of the territory explored
by him eight years ago.
Glaciers Lose Fronts
For many years now the Men
denhall Glacier has been losing
many miles of its front annually"
he said. THE same is true of the
Norris, the Taku, the Twins, the
TulseQuah, and all the other glacial
fingers radiating from the great ice
cap. We have spent several days of
late climbing the front of the crew
assed portion of the Mendenhall and
have noted thoroughly its shrinking
condition.
ut was a surprise and almost
shock, to note that the Taku, fav-
Orite of tourist vessels that venture
close to its great front, within
very short time will no longer rest
upon water but entirely upon land.
The left side of the glacier, which
eight years ago was jutting off into
the ford, is now already upon land,
mud shows in the center OF the gla-
cier; and the right hand side has
broken back for a great distance.
Twin Glaciers
THE Twin Glaciers, nearby,
which formerly consisted of two
huge rivers of ice, flowing several
miles into the sea, with thousand
foot elevation to unite around a
mountain that embraced them in a
single glacier, are now two isolated
glaciers, miles apart, and dwindling
AopA0AJH OAI Va bAC 4SC zap AOSA5
nunataks emerge that formerly were
invisible"
Father Hubbard remarked that it
was significant that the shrinkage
was not a matter merely of indi-
vidual glaciers, but of the great ice
cap itself. He said, however that
there was nothing to indicate that
the retreat would be permanent. ut
merely exemplifies a geological
change taking place in the entire
reigon," he said. at is most prob
able that within the next generation
all these glaciers may start advanc-
ing again. Ice ages have appeared
over the earth many times during
its geologic history"
1t is Hubbard's intention to ex-
plore the Taku River in his stain
less steel boat the libby, with spe-
cific attention to the present condi-
ton of the Taku and Twin gla-
ciers. When this is done, he will es-
tablish camp at the Ice cap, and
proceed with the measurements of
temperatures begun at Mendenhall
last week. 1t is also his intention
again to explore the ice fields on
foot
Father Hubbard expressed great
satisfaction with Alex Holden s
handling of the plane. 81 felt per-
feet confidence in him." he said.
He has had many years expert
ence in Alaska. likewise had con-
fidence in the stability of the good
commercial plane in which we were
passengers. We purposely sent out
no statement before we left, know
ing that the Post-Rogers affair
would cause unnecessary anxiety in
the States concerning our safety. 1t
hrrnn