Grasshopper Glacier


by Marlene Affeld - Date: 2009-01-18 - Word Count: 403 Share This!

Montana is home to an amazing and fascinating natural phenomenon:Grasshopper Glacier. Near Cooke City, Montana, in the heart of theBeartooth Mountain Range, Grasshopper Glacier is named for the millionsof grasshoppers entombed within the lower fringes of its ice.

Grasshopper Glacier was discovered in the early 1900's by Dr. J.P.Kimball. Dr. Kimball was an engineer and mining geologist with the USGeological Survey. He and his crew were amazed at the mass and densityof the grasshopper deposit. A photographer on the expedition, AndersWilse, wrote that the magnitude of grasshoppers frozen in the ice "looklike the skin of an elephant". Since its discovery, Grasshopper Glaciercontinues to intrigue and mystify scientists as well as visitors.

Scientific research concludes that over 300 years ago, in the latefall of the season, swarms of grasshoppers congregated in a nearbyriver valley preparing to migrate over the mountain range. Such swarmsare known to have numbered in the billions. It is speculated that earlysnowstorms entrapped them and knocked them down into snow and ice toperish where further snow accumulations buried them for centuriesbefore they were exposed after years of glacial melting.

In scientific studies conducted in 1914, the grasshopper remainswere identified as a species called "Melanoplus Spretus " a type ofmigratory locust that had been extinct for 200 years.

Located at an elevation of 11,300 feet, the glacier is presentlyless than a mile long and a half mile wide. Grasshopper Glacier hasreceded from a length of five miles. In the past this temperate alpineglacier served as an ice dam to a small 30 acre lake. During September6th through September 12, 2003 the character of the glacier radicallychanged, when as a result of melting and erosion, the dam was breechedjust enough to allow the release of over 650 million gallons of waterinto Grasshopper Creek and adjoining drainages. Sediment was spreadacross meadows and into surrounding lakes. Scientists say that a wallof water ten feet tall dug a 30-foot deep trench a half mile down theglacier which resulted in an altered landscape for over 8 milesdownstream.

Glacial scientists call this type of natural occurrence a"jokulhlaup", a term that originated from glacial experts in Iceland.Fortunately no one was injured in this "jokulhlaup" as GrasshopperGlacier is in a remote location.

Grasshopper Glacier is accessible by 4-wheel drive only during lateJuly and through August when the road is dry. At the end of thisarduous road a trail and a four mile hike will accommodate visitorswishing to view the glacier.

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Marlene Affeld has a passion for the environment and all things natural. A seasoned traveler, Marlene enjoys sharing her experiences with others. Visit Marlene's site at Nandu Green for Eco-Friendly living options.
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