Lisa McKeon (Former Employee)

At the time this historic photograph was taken in 1911, Blackfoot Glacier encompassed the current Jackson Glacier. By 1939, Blackfoot Glacier's recession had resulted in two distinct glaciers, Jackson and Blackfoot. This photo pair shows glacial recession and successive vegetation growth along Jackson Glacier's terminus.

As Grinnell Glacier retreats, vegetation establishes itself in the newly exposed surfaces. The increase in vegetation along the moraine (center) in this pair is especially obvious.

Upon close inspection of this photo pair, the viewer can appreciate the change in the volume of glacial ice that has melted from Grinnell Glacier. In the 2010 image, the glacier's terminus can be seen along the edge of Upper Grinnell Lake, a feature that did not exist in 1936.

This large boulder was used by Morton Elrod and other scientists as a baseline to measure the retreat of Grinnell Glacier’s terminus. It is now referred to as “Elrod’s Rock,” and the glacier’s terminus is no longer visible from this point.

A similar view of Grinnell Glacier from the glacier's eastern terminus shows extensive melting and subsequent result, Upper Grinnell Lake. Please respect the photographer: When using these photographs, please credit the photographer and source (eg. T.J. Hileman, courtesy of Glacier National Park Archives). The paired images at the top of this page are examples of proper crediting for each photo...

View from north moraine of Grinnell Glacier. Image Use Most of the repeat photography images available on this website are in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. Images with restrictions are noted below the downloadable image. Please respect the photographer: When using these photographs, please credit the photographer and source (eg. T.J. Hileman, courtesy of Glacier...