Climate Change

These photographs document another aspect of Glacier Park’s dynamic environment, vegetation change. Although Piegan Glacier has not melted noticeably, years of fire suppression and changing climate may have allowed the invasion of conifers in what was an open meadow in the foreground of the 1930 photo. Also, the demise of the ecologically important whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis ) is visually...

Alpine regions along the shores of Hidden Lake (1943 m) show tremendous expansion of vegetation in this photo comparison, especially at the base of Bearhat Mountain.

Establishment of new growth and expansion of existing sparse vegetation is obvious along the upper ridge line (center of photo). Persistent snowpack in these alpine regions once deterred profusion of growth, but changing climate conditions have permitted these species to expand their range.

Thunderbird Glacier, Glacier National Park.

Vegetation ingrowth on the penninsula and surrounding lakeshore are evident in this pair of photos.

Swiftcurrent Glacier 1911 - 2013.

Swiftcurrent Glacier from Swiftcurrent Lookout, Glacier National Park

Swiftcurrent Glacier from Swiftcurrent Trail. Glacier National Park.

Repeating Elrod’s photograph from the same photo point was impossible since he shot from the elevated perspective of the glacier’s surface. The terminus of the glacier has retreated beyond the field of view, but these images give a sense of the glacier’s extent and mass early in the 20th century.

The 1913 image of Sperry Glacier shows the thickness of the glacial ice that once covered the Sperry basin. Now, at approximately 1/3 of it's maximum area, Sperry Glacier continues to recede at a rapid rate. It is one of the glaciers that USGS scientists are monitoring as a benchmark glacier.

The expanse of Sperry Glacier that once greeted hikers facing NE on Comeau Pass is in stark contrast to the bedrock and vegetation that has since emerged as the ice retreated. The Marble image, most likely taken in the 1920s or early 1930s, was featured on a postcard with this caption: " Sperry Glacier from the river."

The northwest portion of Sperry Glacier once spanned Comeau Pass to the base of Edwards Mountain.