The Cascades

The Cascades-Where Have All the Glaciers Gone?

Climate change doesn’t just affect polar bears. It affects mountaineers, too-especially when climbing glacial mountains like the Cascades. Backpacker.com reports that the major glaciers on Mount Rainier are now “at or near their historic minimums.” They don’t seem likely to recuperate, either, and glacial retreat is having major impacts on the roads and trail systems mountaineers depend on for access. In the January 2009 print edition of the magazine, Michael Lanza explains the problem in more detail. Basically, as the glaciers recede, they leave behind moraines, fields of dirt and rock that are inherently unstable.

Also, as the earth’s temperature slowly inches upward, blizzards are being replaced with increasing frequency by rainstorms. The rainstorms melt even more snow, and create massive floods of water, mud and rock from the moraines, and debris. These rivers of debris are called lahars. In this way, the increased rainfall is reshaping (in some cases, obliterating) trails and rerouting streams on Mount Rainer. As anyone who frequents this mountain knows, the storms of November 2006 did major damage to the road and trail systems. Millions of dollars and massive amounts of volunteer work later, much of the mountain is accessible again, including the Wonderland Trail. However, too much rain could undo a lot of that work in a matter of hours.

The retreat of the glaciers also means mountaineers will see less snow and ice on the lower elevations. There’s a chance that global warming will cause more winter snow and could help build the glaciers back up, but it’s just that-a chance. So, if you want to hike Mount Rainier, now is probably the best time to plan a trip. In fact, if you have any dream hikes planned in the Cascades region, don’t put them off. You never know when a bad storm could completely reshape the landscape. The trail you’re planning on taking could be there for decades to come, or it could be completely rerouted as floods carve new channels into the mountain’s sides.

Before you go: Make sure to check the weather before you leave and pack accordingly. Be careful in heavy rainstorms-if you hear a sound like a train, move uphill with a quickness to avoid being swept up in a mudslide. Make sure you have an up-to-date guidebook or a professional guide, as some trails have changed significantly over the past 2 years. Check for updates online. Be safe, but most all, enjoy your trip!