Glacier NP is predicted to lose all its glaciers by 2030. A glacier is more than just snow on a mountain and its hard to tell the difference from a distance. A glacier is ice as well as snow and is moving, grinding and carving everything in its path. They are usually 100's of feet deep and several kilometers wide. The minerals and sediments that the glacial waters carry to the lakes is what makes the beautiful blue/green color when the sunlight hits the surface. So, when the glaciers disappear, so will the beautiful color of the water. Glacier, more than any other park we've been too, will probably be noticably different next time we're able to visit. There is a native beetle killing trees as well, and because its a native beetle the park isn't really doing anything about it at this point- the circle of life so to speak. The sustained cold winter temps used to halt the insect's life cycle, but now up to seven generations are surviving because the temps don't stay cold long enough. Hopefully the trees will adapt or more birds will learn to eat them!
Our campsite at Glacier.
Our campsite at Glacier.
Mark on Buford, Jen on Houston. Fabulous 2 hr trail ride. Saw another black bear! This one was brown ( black bears can be 6 different colors- black, brown, blonde, cinnamon, blue gray or white depending on their age and what part of the world they live in). I got a great picture of him/her too!
Bridget came up with a plan to take pictures of the pictures on the camera since we lost a day on the blog:)) So here are a few!
Mike, Alida, Anita and John with Bridget. Mike and Alida are one of Bridget's best friend's grandparents. We did the St Mary lake boat cruise and falls hike with them!
The moose we saw from the same hike. Everyone thought it was a bear in the water, and it wasn't until we zoomed with our fabulous camera and took a photo that people believed me when I said it was a moose! This moose was 1/2 mi away down in the lake- we were up on the cliffs.
The black bear I mentioned earlier:)
Mike, Alida, Anita and John with Bridget. Mike and Alida are one of Bridget's best friend's grandparents. We did the St Mary lake boat cruise and falls hike with them!
The moose we saw from the same hike. Everyone thought it was a bear in the water, and it wasn't until we zoomed with our fabulous camera and took a photo that people believed me when I said it was a moose! This moose was 1/2 mi away down in the lake- we were up on the cliffs. The black bear I mentioned earlier:)
That is sad about the glaciers. :( Love the campsite and wishing I was there right about now!
ReplyDeleteIt is breathtaking!!
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