EXPLORING THE MOUNTAIN AND ITS GLACIERS, 1896 



shown that the valley down which Carbon Glacier 

 flows, as well as the vast amphitheater in which it has 

 its source, is sunk in the flanks of the mountain. To 

 restore the northern slope of the ancient volcano as it 

 existed when the mountain was young we should have 

 to fill the depression in which the glacier lies at least 

 to the height of its bordering ridges. On looking down 

 the glacier we see it descending into a vast gulf bor- 

 dered by steep mountains, which rise at least 3,000 

 feet above its bottom. This is the canyon through 

 which the water formed by the melting of the glacier 

 escapes. To restore the mountain this great gulf 

 would also have to be filled. Clearly the traveler 

 in this region is surrounded by the records of mighty 

 changes. Not only does he inquire how the volcanic 

 mountain was formed, but how it is being destroyed. 

 The study of the glaciers will do much toward making 

 clear the manner in which the once smooth slopes have 

 been trenched by radiating valleys, leaving mountain- 

 like ridges between. 



Another line of inquiry which we shall find of interest 

 as we advance is suggested by the recent shrinkage 

 of Carbon Glacier. Are all of the glaciers that flow 

 from the mountain wasting away ? If we find this to 

 be the case, what climatic changes does it indicate ? 



From our camp among the morainal ridges by the 

 side of Carbon Glacier we made several side trips, 

 each of which was crowded with observations of 

 interest. One of these excursions, made by Mr. Smith 

 and myself, was up the snow fields near camp ; past 

 the prominent outstanding pinnacles known as the 

 Guardian Rocks, one red and the other black ; and 

 through Spray Park, with its thousands of groves of 

 spire-like evergreens, with flower-enameled glades 

 between. On the bare, rocky shoulder of the moun- 

 tain, where the trees now grow, we found the unmis- 

 takable grooves and striations left by former glaciers. 

 The lines engraved in the rock lead away from the 



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