itshotashellbelow

After being received on board the Gitri/t, late in September, we bad an opportunity to view the great sea-cliff: of the Hubbard glacier near at hand. Captain I-Iool R.I., attracted by the ma,gnificent scenery, took his vessel up Disenchantment bay to a pat wyond Haenke island, Whence a view could be had of the eastern extension of the inlet. So flar as is known, the Corwin was the first vessel to navigate those waters. Soundings made between the island and the ice-fo, a gave forty to sixty fathoms. At the elbow, where the southeastern shore of the hay turns abruptly eastward, there is a low islet not represented on any map previous to the one made by the recent expedition, which command, even a wider prospect than can be obtained from Haenke island. Future visitors to this remote coast should endeavor to reach this islet, after having beheld the grand panorama obtainable from the summit of Haenke island. The portion of Disenchantment bay stretching eastward from the foot of Huldmard glacier is enclosed on all sides 1 my bold mountains, the lower slopes of which have the subdued and flowing outlines characteristic of glaciated regions. Several glaciers occur in the high-gr:ele lateral valleys opening from the bay ; but these have recently retreated, and none. of them have sufficient volume at present to reach the water. The general recession, in which all the glaciers of Alaska are participating, is manifested here by the broad daris fields, Which cover all the lower ice-streams not ending in time sea. The absence of vegetation on the smooth rocks recently abandoned by the ice also tells of recent climatic changes. A Ubris-covered glacier, so completely concealed. hy contiiillOnS Sheets of stones and earth that its true character can scarcely be recognized, descends from the inountains just east of I I ttlil )ard glacier. It is formed by the union of two princiol tributaries, and, on reaching comparatively level ground, expands into a broad ice-root, but does not have sufficient volume to reach the sea. Another glacier., of smaller size but of the same general character, lies between the Hubbard and Dalton glaciers. In a rugged defile in the mountains just west of Haenke island there is another small dirt-covered glacier, which creeps down from the precipices above and reaches within a mile of the water. At its end there is a cliff of black, dirty ice, scarcely to be distinguished from rock at a little distance, from the base of which flows a turbid stream. This glacier is covered so completely with earth and stones that not a vestige of the ice can be seen unless we actually traverse its surface. Its appearance suggests the name of Black glacier, by which it is designated on the accompanying map. The visitor to Haenke island has examples of at least two well-marked types of glaciers in view : The small debris-covered ice-streams, too small to reach the water, are typical of a large class of glaciers in southern Alaska, which are slowly wasting away and have become buried beneath debris concentrated at the surface by reason of their own melting. The Galiano glacier is a good example of this class.

5 months ago
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