GRASSHOPPER GLACIER OF MONTANA — GURNET 



307 



War II, many persons have come to Goose Lake by jeep. 1 Because of 

 the high altitude and frequent storms, July and August are the best 

 months to visit Grasshopper Glacier. 



In 1940 the glacier was a mile or more in width and extended 

 almost as far back, to the north slope of the mountain. There is 

 some size fluctuation from year to year, but during the past several 

 decades there has been an evident reduction in size. The lower ex- 



ST I LLWAT ER 



PARK CO. 



Tempest 

 Mfn 



Phanf, 

 6l»cier 



Figure 1. — Cooke, Mont., and surrounding area, showing location of Grasshopper Glacier 

 in Custer National Forest. (Adapted from U. S. Forest Service map of Gallatin 

 National Forest and environs, 1947.) 



tremity of the glacier is variously shaped where melting occurs, but 

 toward the northwestern end there is usually a vertical ice cliff, 

 which was described in 1940 as 50 feet high. Folded and crumpled 

 layers of ice, correlated with various snowfalls, are evident on this 

 "face." Grasshoppers seem to be embedded from top to bottom of 

 the glacier, and above, when the snow is gone, they have been found 

 frozen in the surface ice. Dark bands in the ice are popularly thought 



1 F. C. Curtiss, supervisor of the Custer National Forest, estimates (letter of Sept. 

 22, 1952) that at least a dozen organized parties visit the area each year, In addition to 

 perhaps 25 persons who do so as individuals or In small parties. Many who go to the 

 area do not actually reach the glacier itself, and relatively few see the grasshoppers. 



