Columbia Glacier

[Starfish]

First off, Thanks to Nevin for starting this new site.

I used to live a few miles from the Columbia glacier in Alaska, since I left in 1979, the end of the Glacier has retreated spectacularly. It is now at least three times further away from my old house.

To me the loss of ice in the Arctic is very real and a cause for concern.

Hence my interest in This site.

Starfish

[Neven]

Hi Starfish, thanks for the thanks.

I didn't know there were two Columbia Glaciers. I had heard of one in the North Cascades of Washington, through Mauri Pelto's excellent blog: From a Glaciers Perspective.

[crandles]

Per this 2007 BBC video
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/water_and_ice/antarctica#p00gbg92

(As it is BBC, not sure if it is only for people in UK.)

Columbia Glacier, Alaska lost nearly half its thickness in 20 years and 15 km (by 3km wide) since 1980. Presumably more since 2007.

[TerryM]

Columbia Icefield Glacier in Alberta is having it's problems, but you can still ride a "snow coach" up the Athabasca Glacier - the trip just takes longer now.

Hint for those that go. If you insist on wearing sandals to trod on the glacier, be sure to wear thick socks.

Terry

[Vaughn]

Terry,
I have ridden the coach up the glacier as well as hiked in Columbia Icefield area.  The Athabasca Glacier has had utterly amazing retreat since 2000. 

[Artful Dodger]

Terry,
I have ridden the coach up the glacier as well as hiked in Columbia Icefield area.  The Athabasca Glacier has had utterly amazing retreat since 2000.

I visited the Columbia Icefield in July 1981. It has receded > 4 km up the valley since then. I spoke to a man there who said he was there in 1951, and the glacier reached down to the highway, another 2 km down from the end of the road.

Colombia Icefields on Google maps

[crandles]

I visited in about 88 when they were still claiming it was the world's most accessable glacier. Noticably less accessable now but that probably applies to most other glaciers too.

[Vaughn]

I last visited Athabasca in 2009.  I have been visiting there since 1976.  Another huge change in that general area is the dead pine trees from pine bark beetles.  In 1976 there was a dead pine here and there like one might expect in a healthy forest.  By 2009 there were mile after mile of dead pine trees...I would estimate 20-40% dead...more dead in some places, fewer in others.  I drove all the way to the Yukon in 2009 and there were large areas of dead trees all the way.  It was sobering and very sad.  That summer is when climate change really hit home for me...like being slapped in the face . 

[Laurent]

Interesting gif !

[Frivolousz21]

A huge blow torch is coming to Western NA.

places in Canada will reach the 90s.