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Post by ecocentric on May 22, 2020 20:26:48 GMT -8
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Post by cweston on May 23, 2020 4:26:45 GMT -8
Fascinating. Glaciers and snowfields are very interesting places: much more alive than people would guess.
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Post by absarokanaut on May 23, 2020 7:27:57 GMT -8
One of the things I love finding in early July up on the Divide is a large colony of either Glacier Lillies or Marsh Marigolds litterally popping up through the melting snow both above and below Treeline. As to the Krumholz: I've spent many an hour or two taking delightful naps and alcohol infused respites shelterd by the stunted confifers. I think cresting past Krumholz is one of my absolute favorite things in life. Meadow Voles on top of Southern Absaroka Plateaus are pretty darn prolific. One must be careful with their strides, I've seen their barely sub surface hollow tubes break bones of the more impetuous. Sometimes I find dozens if not hundereds of their nests and am amazed how they thrive right ther on top of the ground under yards of snow. I can't wait for July!
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on May 23, 2020 7:48:12 GMT -8
Cool! I knew about or have seen the things in the second link, but hadn’t heard of glacier mice . absarokanaut, “krumholtz” is the word in my ABC book that is new to almost all the (non-backpacking) adults who’ve read it
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Post by ecocentric on May 23, 2020 9:07:56 GMT -8
Water saturated soil sometimes extrudes interesting ice crystals when it freezes overnight. Needle ice and frost flowers can form on the surface of porous, water saturated soil if the night temperature falls far enough. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needle_ice
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on May 23, 2020 9:53:39 GMT -8
ecocentric I never knew the name for that stuff! Have known about it and found it fascinating since I was a kid.
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Travis
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WYOMING NATIVE
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Post by Travis on May 23, 2020 20:21:21 GMT -8
For me there has long been “magic” in alpine areas. Magic not because it can’t be explained. Magic because I enjoy pondering the explanations. So thanks, Eco, for tagging another mystery and allowing me to tag along. I can’t say I’ve ever seen moss balls.
But I have seen many places where moss had an affinity for ice. Puzzling at first, but so was the idea of using snow as insulation. I had to “run away” from home and sleep in a snowdrift to learn that one. Tsk, tsk! Just try (as a 13-year-old) explaining that experiment to the parents for breakfast. “It’s physics, Mom! Lab-work.”
Oh, yeah, there’s alpine “magic” for me also because, like Absarokanaut, I’ve spent my share of time napping with krumholtz and waking slowly enough to not be entirely sure where I emerged from dream to revisit “reality.” After all, reality is just a place I visit.
I’m sure there is plenty of mystery in a sand dune, also. And a mystery explained is something to see. But when I see a glacier disappear with a topo-map revision, a part of me bids adieu to the magic and to the watermelon snow that gave it flavor.
Sound like an obituary? I hope not.
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Westy
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Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
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Post by Westy on May 24, 2020 6:18:18 GMT -8
When not hiking locally, and pending my target June 1st breakout, have developed a new Stay-at-Home endeavor. Scattered about the basement are boxes full of photos, negatives and slides. Was seeking a process to convert to digital. Called B&H Photo in New York City. Needed straight talk, not sales pitch. They recommended a Epson V600 capable of converting negatives, slides, photos and just about anything else. So good bye Law & Order, hello new indoor avocation. What has that got to do with glaciers? My first slide conversion project is visually glacier oriented. First tracks - Kahiltna Glacier, Denali NP Wonder how it looks today 28 years later.
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Post by absarokanaut on May 24, 2020 9:48:07 GMT -8
Rebecca I called myself The Krumholz Kid on some older forums. Not alpine related but in the same vein: When the North End of Sheep Mt. slid 95 years ago and damned the Gros Ventre River some trees slid down 2,000' vertical...and remained upright and thrive to this day.
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Post by swimswithtrout on May 24, 2020 14:06:16 GMT -8
Peak top in the Indian Peaks Wilderness
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on May 24, 2020 15:19:30 GMT -8
Life is tenacious. And precious.
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Post by swimswithtrout on May 24, 2020 15:50:37 GMT -8
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Post by swimswithtrout on May 24, 2020 15:53:12 GMT -8
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panatomicx
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Less noise and more green
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Post by panatomicx on May 24, 2020 17:12:22 GMT -8
Beautiful-High alpine flowers.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on May 24, 2020 17:53:43 GMT -8
I'm always amazed at the delicate, fragile-looking columbines growing where there is nothing but rock:
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