MENDENHALL GLACIER
As promised in my TODAY IS NATIONAL HAIKU POETRY DAY post, here is my GLACIER HAIKU…
The poem was inspired by our Alaskan Cruise. One of the excursions that my son, DJ, and I took was a flight to the top of the Mendenhall Glacier. We jokingly had a photo taken of me trying to push him into a crevice.
The Mendenhall Glacier is located about 12 miles away from Juneau. It is part of Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the United States.
To get to the glacier we took a helicopter ride. The view was spectacular! After we landed, we exited the helicopter. Thankfully, we had special boots, so we wouldn’t slip. We stood on a mass of ice that had accumulated over thousands of years!
The ice appears blue because it absorbs all light colors except blue. We see the color that is not absorbed.
The dirt on top of the glacier is a result of melting ice and snow sliding down the mountain slope. As it slides it takes rocks and soil with it. Over time the previous year’s accumulation is compacted. This creates new ice on the glacier.
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WOW. That looks beautiful. That might have been some trip. Speaking of trips, I wonder how deep the crevice was where you and DJ were standing next to. If you two has tripped and fell and found days later, you'd have had a killer novel to write, lol. Dark humour I know, I apologise if it offends you.
It was maybe three or four feet, so I'll have to put the killer novel on ice.
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Hi @emergehealthier The photographs are very good and the description of the place pushes me towards the cravice of asking questions. Is this melting of the Mendenhall Glacier natural or is it caused by global warming? as you describe the action of erosion, presence of cracks, abundant water accumulation. Do you know anything about it? @renny-krieger
It is a complicated answer. The glaciers are a result of the earth;s climate. The earth has cycled through periods of neo-glaciation ( cool temperatures that allows the advance of glaciers) and post-glaciation (warmer temperatures that causes the retreat of glaciers).
We had what was know as the "Little Ice Age" (approximately 1300 to 1850) that followed a Medieval Warming Period (approximately 900–1300). Since the 1700's the Mendenhall Glacier has been in retreat.
Historically, there has been natural periods of cooling and warming of the Earth. In recent years the glacier has significantly retreated. Some scientist attribute it to "Global Warming" caused by human activity. Others claim it is just part of the earth's cycle of warming and cooling.
I really don't know the answer. I do believe that we should be more environmental friendly to our planet.
Huffington Post has a time lapsed video of the glaciers retreat.
You might also be interested in USDA Forest Service's Mendenhall Glacier & Ice Cave FAQs
Hi @emergehealthier Thank you very much for providing good information about Mendenhall Glacier. It's very complete @renny-krieger
Your welcome.
Fine lines,
Finger trace?
In the distance,
the sound of impact.....
@renny-krieger
in response to @emergehealthier's Haiku
Very nice, I love when people reply to a poem with a poem!
And I like to read the Haiku on the Mendenhall Glacier, something as beautiful as that landscape will always generate a beautiful response from us. @renny-krieger