Carbon Glacier, Glacier expanse in Mount Rainier National Park, United States.
Carbon Glacier is an active glacier on the north slope of Mount Rainier in Washington State. It flows through a deep valley flanked by steep rock walls, reaching a lower end elevation than almost any other glacier in the contiguous United States.
The glacier formed over thousands of years as snow built up and compressed into permanent ice on Mount Rainier's north face. Since the 1800s, it has thinned noticeably, and the retreat has picked up pace over the last century.
The Wonderland Trail passes close to the glacier's lower edge, giving hikers a rare chance to stand near active glacial ice. The surface is often covered in dark rock debris, which makes the ice hard to spot at first glance.
Getting to the glacier requires hiking through dense forest and crossing river channels, with noticeable changes in elevation along the way. The ground can be muddy and uneven, so sturdy footwear is a good idea before setting out.
Carbon Glacier is so heavily covered in dark rock debris that from a distance it can look like a plain scree slope with no ice at all. This layer of debris actually insulates the ice from sunlight and slows its melting considerably.
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