Glacier National Park Read Online Free PDF Page B

me what happened. Well…I’ve never hiked up this trail so quickly. I got to the two people and radioed for help. We had to fly them both out in a helicopter, but they survived. In fact, the father came back a year later to hike this very same trail!
    “One thing we should all consider when hiking in bear country is to go in large groups, like we are today. But enough of this scary bear stuff,” Rick said, turning back toward the glacier. “You can only see the top of Grinnell Glacier now, so let’s hike the rest of the way and look at all of it. And by the way, George Bird Grinnell discovered Grinnell Glacier back in 1887. It’s been extensively viewed and studied ever since.”
    Morgan and James noticed the bear spray clipped to Rick’s belt.

    Mom saw where James looked. “We’re going to have to get some bear spray for ourselves,” she mentioned, keeping her family close behind the ranger.
    The group passed a waterfall splashing vigorously onto the trail. The Parkers, like the other hikers, dashed by, hoping not to get soaked. Eventually, everyone reached the last group of trees before the final steep climb.
    Someone noticed an animal nearby. “Look. A bighorn!”
    The large, noble-looking sheep was standing on a mound of rock, its thick horns curling over its head.
    “There’s another one,” Morgan called out.
    “They’re guarding the valley,” Rick announced with a smile.
    The group proceeded up the trail. As they passed the bighorns, Morgan and James counted. “I’ve seen twelve so far,” James reported.
    The path began to level off. One last large sheep was perched on a huge boulder, staring down at the hikers.
    “He’s right above us,” Dad whispered nervously as the family dashed by.

    Finally the group reached the top. Straight ahead was a remnant arctic scene. Grinnell Glacier was full of cracks and large chunks of ice. Some icebergs were floating in a small turquoise lake. A waterfall splashed down from Salamander Glacier above it.
    Suddenly a booming, cracking sound rumbled up from the ice field. It echoed throughout the mountain bowl like thunder. The Parkers and the whole group froze and looked all around.

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    A cascade of small boulders and rocks showered onto the glacier from the cliffs above. Then a large chunk of ice broke away and tumbled into the lake.
    The newly formed iceberg dipped below the water and bobbed and weaved its way to the surface. A series of rippling waves followed, flowing toward the shore.
    Slowly, the free-floating chunk of ice steadied. Rick turned toward the group, grinning. “Well, you don’t get to see that every day!”
    Once everything appeared stable, Rick presented more information. “We used to lead our hikes onto the glacier itself. Obviously that can’t be done anymore because of the lake. Come here, everyone, I want to show you some pictures.”
    The group gathered around while Rick held up a poster. “This is the park’s Boulder Glacier in the 1930s.” Rick’s picture showed the tongue of the glacier with a large ice cave in it.
    “And here it is now.” The next photo showed the same area, completely barren of ice and snow.
    Rick held up another picture. “Here’s Grinnell Glacier years ago. Notice how it was attached all the way up to Salamander Glacier.”
    “Wow,” a person in the group exclaimed. “It really has lost a lot of snow.”

    Someone in the group raised her hand. “What makes it a glacier and not a snowfield?”
    “Excellent question,” Rick replied. “A snowfield is formed by more snow accumulating than melting. If the snowfield continues to grow each year, it eventually gets large enough to move. That’s when we call it a glacier. Usually they have to be 90 to 100 feet thick to start moving. When glaciers lose ice mass and stop moving, they are no longer glaciers.
    “I’d like to have a couple of young, strong volunteers for a demonstration,” Rick said next.
    The group looked at Morgan and James, the only