^8 ■ STEPHEN R. CAPPS 



of the present glacier, and spread out upon the plain at the north 

 base of the Nutzotin Mountains. At this time, the glacier was 

 about ICO miles long from its terminus to the top of Mount Wran- 

 gell, where it headed. Other glaciers of this region were propor- 

 tionately greater. 



An attempt has been made, based on somewhat incomplete data, 

 to show the northern limits of the glaciers in this region at the time 

 of their maximum extent (Fig. i). The glaciated area includes all 

 of the Wrangell, Nutzotin, and Skolai mountains. It is probable 

 that at no time were the Nutzotin Mountains entirely ice-covered, 

 but only the highest peaks and ridges projected above the glacier, 

 and the total area of these projecting points was very small, 



COPPER RIVER VALLEY 



The Copper River heads in a glacier which receives the ice from 

 the north slope of Mount Wrangell and from a part of the east slope 

 of Mount Sanford. Although seen only at a distance by the writer, 

 its general characteristics can be learned from the topographic map. 

 In length this glacier is much inferior to those in the valleys of the 

 Nabesna and Chisana rivers, to the east. It is about 20 miles long 

 from the top of Mount Wrangell to the terminus, and has an area 

 of approximately 140 square miles. 



Small glaciers in the Copper drai^tage. —Esist of the main ice-body 

 there are three small glaciers which lie high up the rock-wall and 

 fail to send their ice-tongues down to join the main lobe. On the 

 west. West Glacier moves from Mount Sanford down to the main 

 valley, which it reaches three miles below the end of the Copper 

 Glacier. Drop Glacier, still farther to the northwest, is the last 

 ice-tongue of importance within the boundaries of the region under 

 discussion. 



Glacio -fluvial deposits. — ^Below the edge of the mountains the 

 great Copper River basin extends to the north and west. The 

 basin is covered with extensive gravel deposits which contain a great 

 variety of beds ranging from coarse gravels and unassorted glacial 

 till to finely assorted clays and silts. The extension of these beds 

 to the west and south has been discussed by Mendenhall.^ Toward 



I Op. cit., pp. 62-72. 



