738 /. H. OGILVIE 



for the present motion. Since the beginning of the observations of 

 Messrs. Vaiix the end of the glacier has been receding rapidly. A 

 general average of their observations gives an annual recession of 

 about 60 feet. 



The Illecillewaet neve is some 10 square miles in extent. It lies 

 in a depression between several high peaks, and feeds four large 

 glaciers. A second of these is the Asulkan. During the year 1899- 

 1900 Mr. Vaux reports that this glacier receded 24 feet, but at present 

 it seems to be advancing. When I visited it this summer, the end 

 had pushed forward up and over an old moraine. 



The Asulkan and Illecillewaet glaciers are roughly parallel, both 

 moving north. From the same neve comes the Geikie glacier, 

 moving southwest, and the Deville glacier, moving east. There are 

 several lesser, unnamed glaciers at intermediate points. All present 

 the same general characteristics of high gradient, clean surface, and 

 rapid retreat. 



CONDITIONS AFFECTING MOTION 



Without entering into the causes of glacier motion, it is safe to 

 say that the conditions favoring rapid movement are steepness of 

 slope, great precipitation of snow, little load, and high temperature. 



Slope. — The slope is greater in glaciers of the second type than in 

 those of the first type. The Victoria, Ten Peaks, and Consolation 

 Valley glaciers on the east side are almost flat. They appear to lie 

 in valleys of slight declivity, and the continual melting at their upper 

 ends keeps the ice of nearly uniform thickness. But glaciers of the 

 second group have, as a rule, great slopes. The Illecillewaet rises 

 over 2,000 feet to its neve, in a distance of about two and one-half 

 miles. The Wapta is almost as steep, rising about 1,200 feet. The 

 Asulkan has a varied course, having two falls separated by a flatter 

 area, but its general slope is steep. This steepness of slope is due 

 partly to steep declivity of the valley floors, partly to great thickness 

 of the ice in the region of accumulation, with thinning from melting 

 in the region of dissipation. Both from steeper slope of the valley 

 and from greater pressure of a thicker mass of ice above the glaciers 

 of the second type have the advantage. 



Snowfall. — Records are kept at the Glacier House with more or 



