Ice Capades at Byron Glacier

Roadside Geology of Cook Inlet

Teacher: Dr. Dick Reger

Geologist Dick Reger likes to finish what he starts. Last May he led two van-loads of intrepid OLÉ! members on a geology excursion around Cook Inlet – a highly successful field trip in all respects except one: six feet of snow on the trail made the planned hike out to the terminus of Byron Glacier impossible! Fortunately for us, Dr. Reger graciously agreed to reschedule the hike for this September. He will review the relevant concepts covered in May, for those of us with imperfect memories and for interested members who missed his parking lot lectures last spring, and expects that we will see many glacial outwash features: ice-cored moraines, melt water ponds, kettles and till, as well as evidence of snow avalanches. He’ll teach us how to examine the snow and glacier ice with specialized tools, e.g., a shovel, and a geologist’s eye, and if we are very lucky we might dig up some wood that was over ridden by the Little Ice Age advance of the glacier.

For information on the nature of the hike, required and recommended gear, the location of the Byron Glacier parking lot, and optional activities in the area, see notes.

DATE: Saturday, September 6, 2008

DEPARTS:10:00 AM from the Byron Glacier parking lot near the Begich-Boggs Visitors’ Center

RETURNS:to the Visitors’ Center by 4:00 PM

COST:None

Dr. Dick Reger, with his capable assistant and all-purpose easel, uses a map of the Upper Cook Inlet area to illustrate the movement of glaciers around Turnagain Arm.