Thursday, January 15, 2015

Ghost Glacier haunted by icefall

20th century image from Peel Library, U of A

One of three glaciers visible from the Glacier Trail at Mount Edith Cavell in Jasper National Park, Ghost Glacier is well -- just a ghost of its former self. In the summer of 2012, this glacier dropped the largest volume of ice and snow ever to fall in the park. According to Mountain News, the glacier lost up to 70% of its mass. Fortunately, the cataclysm occurred when nobody was close enough to be injured.

The icy avalanche, recorded by tourists with video cameras, caused a tidal wave to rise up out of the lake and wash out the trail head, picnic area and parking lot. The event was reported with accompanying video from as far off as Australia.

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