Sperry Glacier is a
glacier
A glacier (; ) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires distinguishing features, such as ...
on the north slopes of
Gunsight Mountain west of the
Continental Divide in
Glacier National Park in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...
of
Montana
Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columb ...
. Although many geologic features of Glacier National Park were formed during the
much longer period of glaciation ending over 10,000 years ago, Sperry Glacier — like all the glaciers in the park today — is a product of the recent
Little Ice Age, the period of cooler average temperatures starting in about the 13th century and concluding in the mid-19th century.
Once one of the largest glaciers in the park, the surface area of Sperry Glacier has
retreated 75 percent since the mid-19th century. 2005 measurements of the surface area of the glacier resulted in an estimated area of , whereas the glacier is estimated to have covered an area of at the end of the Little Ice Age in the mid-19th century. The glacier lost almost 35 percent of its surface area between 1966 and 2005.
[ The glacier is named for Lyman B. Sperry, a professor from Oberlin College, who in 1895 participated in an expedition to explore the geography and map the region where the glacier is located. Like all other glaciers in the park, Sperry has significantly retreated, though it leaves many minor glacial features, including large moraines and streams and lakes colored a milky aqua from glacial flour. Unlike the more famous ]Grinnell Glacier
Grinnell Glacier is in the heart of Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glacier is named for George Bird Grinnell, an early American conservationist and explorer, who was also a strong advocate of ensuring the creation of Glac ...
, Sperry Glacier is high above the lakes it feeds, so no icebergs form.
Visiting the Glacier
Hikers often spend the night at Sperry Chalet
Sperry Chalet is located about seven miles east of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The chalet was opened in 1914 by the Great Northern Railway and was a National Historic Landmark contributing property, bein ...
or its neighboring campground before undertaking the hike to Sperry Glacier. Although it is only round-trip from Sperry Chalet to Sperry Glacier, the trail is quite steep, rising in just . Invisible from the rocky slopes below, a series of glacial cirques with streams, waterfalls and lakes reflecting snow field
A snow field, snowfield or neve is an accumulation of permanent snow and ice, typically found above the snow line, normally in mountainous and glacial terrain.
Glaciers originate in snowfields. The lower end of a glacier is usually free from ...
s and mountain peaks leads to a steep and narrow stone staircase cut into the stone ridge of Comeau Pass Comeau may refer to:
People
* Anselm-François Comeau, 19th Century Nova Scotia politician
* Andy Comeau, actor
* Ashley Comeau, actor, improviser, producer
* Blake Comeau, hockey player
* Carol Comeau, teacher
* Chuck Comeau, drummer for Simpl ...
. The view from the top of the steps is panoramic, encompassing Mount Brown, Edwards Mountain
Edwards Mountain () is located in the Lewis Range, Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. Edwards Mountain rises just to the west of Sperry Glacier. Based on the Köppen climate classification, Edwards Mountain has an alpine climat ...
, and Little Matterhorn.
Reaching the glacier itself involves crossing a wide rock scrabble, snow fields, and the technically challenging glacial moraine. Following the rock cairns and other trail markers will ensure the best footing and easiest routes. Ranger-led hikes are available, starting at the chalet.
For the more adventurous hiker, the glacier and the surrounding area known as Floral Park can be reached via a long day hike starting from Logan Pass
Logan Pass (elevation ) is located along the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park, in the U.S. state of Montana. It is the highest point on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The pass is named after Major William R. Logan, the first superintende ...
. The route takes the hiker along the entire western edge of Hidden Lake before climbing upward along Bearhat Mountain
Bearhat Mountain () is located in the Lewis Range, Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. Bearhat Mountain is immediately west of Hidden Lake. The mountain was named after a Kootenai Native American, and was officially adopted by ...
and crossing the westernmost tip of the Dragon's Tail. From there, the route descends into Floral Park, and after a careful traverse across the bottom of the glacier, the hiker can exit the area via Comeau Pass and can descend down to the Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun Road is a scenic mountain road in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States, in Glacier National Park in Montana. The Sun Road, as it is sometimes abbreviated in National Park Service documents, is the only road that trave ...
near Lake McDonald
Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier National Park. It is located at in Flathead County in the U.S. state of Montana. Lake McDonald is approximately 10 miles (16 km) long, and over a mile (1.6 km) wide and 472 feet (130 m) ...
. The route is in the vicinity of and is quite strenuous.
See also
* List of glaciers in Glacier National Park (U.S.)
*Retreat of glaciers since 1850
The retreat of glaciers since 1850 affects the availability of fresh water for irrigation and domestic use, mountain recreation, animals and plants that depend on glacier-melt, and, in the longer term, the level of the oceans. Deglaciation occu ...
*List of glaciers in the United States
This is a list of glaciers existing in the United States, currently or in recent centuries. These glaciers are located in nine states, all in the Rocky Mountains or farther west. The southernmost named glacier among them is the Lilliput Glacier ...
References
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Glaciers of Flathead County, Montana
Glaciers of Glacier National Park (U.S.)
Hiking trails in Montana
Geology of Montana
Glaciers of Montana