Glaciers Of Glacier National Park Face Bleak Future
Rachel Gerdes
Jr. Staff Writer
Beautiful views, gigantic mountains, abundant wildlife.
And it’s all in mortal danger.
The glaciers of Glacier National Park (GNP) are melting. Scientists estimate that they will all be gone by 2030.
There are 25 remaining glaciers in the park - the only ones left in the lower 48 states. When they melt, the entire ecosystem will suffer the consequences of global warming that humans have caused.
The impact of the disappearing glaciers is huge. Glaciers melt partially year-round (except for in the winter months, when they get reinforced with fresh snow). They are supposed to thaw a little as it helps keep water temperatures low and water levels high. Soon, with the recent increase in global warming, GNP’s glaciers will disappear entirely. Water temperatures will rise, causing the possible extinction of aquatic species, and in droughts, glaciers will no longer be a source of water for the plants and animals of the park.
The outlook for the glaciers wasn’t always so dark.
The park is home to over 70 species of mammals, 270 species of birds, 24 species of fish and almost 2,000 types of plants. It consists of around one million acres, which is a little larger than Rhode Island. It has a grand total of 563 streams and 762 lakes - only 131 of which are named. The summit of Mt. Cleveland is the highest point in the park at 10,448 feet. The park gets its name from the glaciers that chiseled out the lakes, streams and mountains that make the park unique.
Now that people recognize that the damage done to glaciers is beyond repair, they are bigger attractions than ever.
As a result, many vacationers will visit Glacier National Park in the coming years to see the glaciers before they’re gone. It’s best to plan trips to GNP far in advance, before all of the lodges and hotels are filled up. With so many wonderful destinations in the park, it’s hard to know where to go. Some of the most popular attractions are:
Going-to-the-Sun Road - This 75-year-old road weaves 50 miles up and down mountains through the park. There are many places to stop and enjoy the view. Without stopping, it takes around two hours to travel its length.
Lake McDonald Valley - Lake McDonald and the surrounding area offer many activities, such as hiking, horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, and boat tours. The lake itself, which was formed by glaciers, is 10 miles long and up to 500 feet deep.
Logan Pass - It is the highest point in the park reachable by car with an elevation of 6,640 feet. Logan Pass hosts several species of animals like bighorn sheep, mountain goats, marmots, and the occasional grizzly bear. The Highline Trail and Hidden Lake Trail provide hiking opportunities.
St. Mary Valley - St. Mary is the eastern entrance into Glacier National Park. The valley borders a Blackfoot Reservation. Plenty of wildlife including elk, bears, and deer, live in the area. Boat tours run along the lake, which is 10 miles long.
Many Glacier area - Considered the heart of the park, Many Glacier is a great place for hiking. Two of the most popular hikes are the Iceberg Lake trail and Grinnell Glacier trail, which I can personally recommend). It gives hikers an up-close experience with a few of the park’s remaining glaciers. Wildlife and lakes are other attractions.
For visitors who have very little time to visit the park, a drive on Going-to-the-Sun Road is recommended, as well as attending a ranger-led talk. Visitors with time for a longer stay are encouraged to camp, backpack, hike or take a boat cruise, or a horseback trip.
Glacier National Park and the surrounding area has hosted people for thousands of years. Evidence of humans in the Glacier area dates back to 10,000 years ago. Blackfoot, Salish and Kootenai Indian tribes inhabited what would become Glacier National Park before the first Europeans came looking for pelts. By 1891, the Great Northern Railway was finished, bringing settlers who took up mining and farming. Then, small towns formed. In the late 1800s, naturalists like George Bird Grinnell started petitioning to have the area become a national park. Eventually, GNP was founded by President William Taft in 1910 as the nation’s tenth national park. Glacier is still enjoyed by millions of people per year.
Advances in technology and culture come at a high price. Unless we turn things around, our environment faces a bleak future. The very glaciers that gave Glacier National Park its name are doomed. The question is: are you going to see them before they’re gone?
