Kaskawulsh Glacier

Kaskawulsh Glacier junction from the air, August 2004

The Kaskawulsh Glacier is a vast, temperate valley glacier nestled in the St. Elias Mountains, within Kluane National Park in the Canadian territory of Yukon.[1] Located approximately 6000–9000 ft (2000–3000 m) above sea level, the glacier covers more than 15,000 mi2 (25,000 km2) of the surrounding landscape.[2] It terminates at the head of two river valleys, the Slims and the Kaskawulsh River, which feed the Yukon River (via Kluane Lake) and Alsek River systems respectively.[3] The Kaskawulsh is the result of two converging outlet glaciers, the Central and North Arms, and is an impressive 3-4 mi (5–6 km) wide at its broadest point.[2]

Backpackers can visit the Kaskawulsh along the popular Slims River West Trail, which follows the Slims River south for 19.9 mi (31.9 km) before ending at the summit of Observation Mountain near the toe of the glacier.[4][5][6]

References

  1. ↑ Norah Foy, Luke Copland, Christian Zdanowicz, Mike Demuth, Chris Hopkinson (7 July 2011). "Recent volume and area changes of Kaskawulsh Glacier, Yukon, Canada" (PDF). Journal of Glaciology 57 (203): 515–525. Bibcode:2011JGlac..57..515F. doi:10.3189/002214311796905596. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  2. 1 2 "Kaskawulsh Glacier - Canadian Glacier Inventory Project". cgip.wikifoundry.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  3. ↑ Garry K. C. Clarke and Gerald Holdsworth (27 November 2002). "Glaciers of North America — Glaciers of Canada: Glaciers of the St. Elias Mountains" (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1386–J–1. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  4. ↑ "Slims River West trail to Observation Mountain, Kluane National Park". philarmitage.net. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  5. ↑ "Slims River West | Yukon, Canada, 1998 | The Hiking Life". thehikinglife.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  6. ↑ "Slim's River West | Hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing trails in the Yukon | yukonhiking.ca". yukonhiking.ca. Retrieved 2016-01-17.

Coordinates: 60°48′17″N 138°36′24″W / 60.8047°N 138.6067°W / 60.8047; -138.6067

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