Rock Glacier on Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park, NV, is the most southern glacier in North America.
Definately not true. The glaciers in Mexico are much farther south and much larger and are in North America.
Rock Glacier
Rock glacier (non caps) is the generic name for the rock glacier. The proper name is Wheeler Rock Glacier, which is the talus covered or cemented ice that you see.
The ice above that is variably known as the Wheeler Icefield or the Wheeler Glacier (different sources will use different names and opinions vary between geologist as to whether it's a true glacier or "glacierette") or Wheeler Icefield. I like your photo since it shows a crevasse in the Y Couloir which indicates moving ice.
Thanks for the comments, Scott. Looking back through my pic's, it looks like I misinterpreted two signs in the park that clearly label it as "Rock Glacier" as being the name rather than a descriptor. I think I've fixed all of the incorrect references in my trip report and image captions. As for the "southernmost glacier", I rechecked my source (Fodor's Guide to National Parks of the West) and it clearly says that. But, I defer to your likely greater knowledge of the subject and have corrected that as well. Again, thanks for helping me to keep SP's info correct. :-) --mark d.
I think I've fixed all of the incorrect references in my trip report and image captions. As for the "southernmost glacier", I rechecked my source (Fodor's Guide to National Parks of the West) and it clearly says that.
Interestingly there are a lot of books claiming that, but for different places. One says St Vrain CO is the southern most glacier in North America. Another says Palisades in CA. Of course they are all ignoring Mexico which is farther south!!
Thanks for looking, VI. Yeah, I don't know what's going on with that primary image. I've seen that on some of my other recent TRs, too. Go figure. :-) --mark d.
did you climb the peak?!? Also, I read this some where, but I think it said that a few of the peaks in the Ruby Mountians (still in Nevada) up north were glaciated.. i don't know if thats true or not...
Woodzy--No, we did not summit the peak. That's actually a different trail (though there are some more hardy souls who have climbed from the glacier). It may be there are other glaciers in Nevada. As Scott pointed out above, the guide I had was incorrect in saying that this is the furthest south glacier. So it may also be incorrect about this being Nevada's only glacier. I'll check into that and edit as appropriate. Thanks! --mark d.
P.S.--I see you've done Philmont. You might also be interested in my Philmont trip report here on SP (Philmont, Itinerary 24).
ahh I see. Well that makes sense...I'll try and find something out about it too... And yup, I have done Philmont. Hopefully next year I will be stafing there. I'll check it out, thanks.
Scott - Sep 24, 2007 3:19 pm - Voted 10/10
Wheeler Rock Glacier/GlacierNice TR.
Rock Glacier on Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park, NV, is the most southern glacier in North America.
Definately not true. The glaciers in Mexico are much farther south and much larger and are in North America.
Rock Glacier
Rock glacier (non caps) is the generic name for the rock glacier. The proper name is Wheeler Rock Glacier, which is the talus covered or cemented ice that you see.
The ice above that is variably known as the Wheeler Icefield or the Wheeler Glacier (different sources will use different names and opinions vary between geologist as to whether it's a true glacier or "glacierette") or Wheeler Icefield. I like your photo since it shows a crevasse in the Y Couloir which indicates moving ice.
cp0915 - Sep 24, 2007 4:00 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Wheeler Rock Glacier/GlacierGood stuff. I was fortunate enough to see a couple of small crevasses myself when I was on the glacier a few falls ago.
Mark Doiron - Sep 24, 2007 5:50 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Wheeler Rock Glacier/GlacierThanks for the comments, Scott. Looking back through my pic's, it looks like I misinterpreted two signs in the park that clearly label it as "Rock Glacier" as being the name rather than a descriptor. I think I've fixed all of the incorrect references in my trip report and image captions. As for the "southernmost glacier", I rechecked my source (Fodor's Guide to National Parks of the West) and it clearly says that. But, I defer to your likely greater knowledge of the subject and have corrected that as well. Again, thanks for helping me to keep SP's info correct. :-) --mark d.
Mark Doiron - Sep 24, 2007 5:51 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Wheeler Rock Glacier/GlacierThanks, Cp0915, but I'll bet nothing like in your profile image! --mark d.
cp0915 - Sep 24, 2007 5:55 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Wheeler Rock Glacier/GlacierTrue. I suppose these were a -tiny- bit smaller!
Scott - Sep 24, 2007 8:00 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Wheeler Rock Glacier/GlacierI think I've fixed all of the incorrect references in my trip report and image captions. As for the "southernmost glacier", I rechecked my source (Fodor's Guide to National Parks of the West) and it clearly says that.
Interestingly there are a lot of books claiming that, but for different places. One says St Vrain CO is the southern most glacier in North America. Another says Palisades in CA. Of course they are all ignoring Mexico which is farther south!!
Nice TR. Looks like you had a good time.
vancouver islander - Sep 25, 2007 12:46 pm - Voted 10/10
Nice pageInteresting area.
One odd thing - the primary image links to the SP image page - all gazillion of them!
Cheers,
Martin
Mark Doiron - Sep 25, 2007 1:09 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice pageThanks for looking, VI. Yeah, I don't know what's going on with that primary image. I've seen that on some of my other recent TRs, too. Go figure. :-) --mark d.
rmjwinters - Sep 28, 2007 3:07 pm - Hasn't voted
Nice TRMark,
Thanks for submitting your TR!
Randy
Mark Doiron - Sep 30, 2007 5:01 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice TRAnd thank you for reading and commenting, Randy! --mark d.
Alex Wood - Jul 7, 2008 1:11 am - Voted 10/10
Nice trip report, but...did you climb the peak?!? Also, I read this some where, but I think it said that a few of the peaks in the Ruby Mountians (still in Nevada) up north were glaciated.. i don't know if thats true or not...
Mark Doiron - Jul 7, 2008 6:29 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice trip report, but...Woodzy--No, we did not summit the peak. That's actually a different trail (though there are some more hardy souls who have climbed from the glacier). It may be there are other glaciers in Nevada. As Scott pointed out above, the guide I had was incorrect in saying that this is the furthest south glacier. So it may also be incorrect about this being Nevada's only glacier. I'll check into that and edit as appropriate. Thanks! --mark d.
P.S.--I see you've done Philmont. You might also be interested in my Philmont trip report here on SP (Philmont, Itinerary 24).
Alex Wood - Jul 7, 2008 10:26 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Nice trip report, but...ahh I see. Well that makes sense...I'll try and find something out about it too... And yup, I have done Philmont. Hopefully next year I will be stafing there. I'll check it out, thanks.