GLACIERS OF THE SIERRA COSTA MOUNTAINS 55 
climatic conditions at this altitude are not far removed from 
those favoring glaciation. The winter snow fall on the mountains 
is heavy, they being near the coast. On the higher peaks, light 
flurries of snow are often seen in July, and by the end of October, 
the winter’s snow has set in in earnest. Storm after storm ensues 
thruout the winter and well on into the spring. ley yore a 
it is no uncommon thing for the higher mountains to be 
sheeted under eight, ten, fifteen, or in places as much as twenty 
feet in depth of well-packed snow. This melts away slowly. By 
June, most of it is gone; by July, nearly all; but some remains 
all the year on the northern slopes of Mt. Thompson and Granite 
Peak and in sheltered ravines of Mt. Courtney. This perennial 
snow lies at altitudes of about 8000 feet. 
Now, in my opinion, a general uplift of the entire region to 
the extent of 3000 feet would be a sufficient cause for the dupli- 
cation of the ancient glaciers and a restoration of the whole 
mountain range to its condition in the Wisconsin epoch. That 
would carry the summits of all the peaks above 10,000 feet, 
elevate the main ones, such as Granite Peak and Mt. Courtney, 
LOM, OOOManGd) 11,500) feet and: Mit. Thompson would tower to 
the altitude of 12,345 feet, comparable with Mt. Shasta. The 
heads of the glaciated valleys would be elevated to 9500 feet. 
If perennial snow lies today in small ravines at 8000 feet, how 
readily must it have accumulated in deep valleys over 1500 feet 
higher and in the shadow of peaks towering to 11,000 and 
12,000 feet. Considerable bodies of snow lie all the year at no 
greater altitude on the sunny side of Mt. Shasta, and one may 
see snow on any summer day by glancing at Lassen Peak whose 
altitude does not much exceed 10,000 feet. Both these moun- 
tains are far from the coast, in a comparatively dry belt. 
From their nearness to the Pacific Ocean, the elevated Sierra 
Costa Mountains must have received a heavier snow fall at a given 
altitude than Mt. Shasta. Also, being a group of mountains 
(acting like an elevated plateau) instead of a single isolated 
peak must have favored a lowering of the temperature and 
increased precipitation. Even without an added snow fall, a 
