[MCR] Glaciers in Glacier National Park

Hello Everyone,

This past week I assisted the PC Glacier Monitoring team on the Illecillewaet Glacier.  We commenced our day at 2700 meters and walked the down to the toe of the ice to conduct the tasks of our study. We observed 4cm of new snow since the precipitation earlier in the week (16th-19th of September) with a firm 2 cm crust above 2600 meters. As of last evening, there has been 12mm of precipitation at the Roger's Pass with freezing levels likely at 2500 meters today.

Overall, the precipitation amounts accumulated as snow were minimal on Friday and the glacier was still quite dry and notably broken as we walked from monitor point to point on our descent.  Travel wasn't complex, but did require some probing and attention. The crevasses between 2400 and 2600 meters were as big and open as I have seen them and some time was spent moving our rope team around the hazards in spite of still fairly dry conditions on the glacier due to the loss of seasonal and firn snow this summer. 

The primary culprit for these conditions was a record breaking dry July. 

With this in mind, for those climbers planning trips into this fall and also for skiers in the early portion of the winter planning to travel through glaciated terrain in the West Columbia's and surrounding areas, it may be worthwhile to consider this summer's weather impact on glaciated areas of the park. I suspect in many places there are some considerable changes to the hazard potential with respect to bridging over crevasses; particularly in shoulder season and beyond into early winter snow pack conditions. 

The photos below maybe helpful with future trip planning in glaciated areas of Glacier National Park going forward.

Paddy Jerome
Visitor Safety Technician
ACMG/IFMGA
Mount Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks
Ph. 250 814 3524
patrick.jerome@xxxxxxxx
www.parksmountainsafety.ca
www.parcsecuritemontagne.ca

Illecillewaet Glacier Lower July 2013.JPG
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Illecillewaet Upper July 2013.JPG
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