Easton Glacier, Alpine glacier on Mount Baker, Washington, United States.
Easton Glacier is an expanse of ice covering Mount Baker's south slope, stretching from high altitude craters down to forested lower elevations. The frozen formation dominates the visual landscape and feeds meltwater into surrounding waterways throughout the year.
Easton Glacier is named for Charles F. Easton of Bellingham, who worked to preserve the history of Mount Baker. Between 1850 and 1950 it retreated 2,420 m; in the cooler, wetter years from 1950 to 1979 it advanced 608 m, then retreated 275 m between 1980 and 2006. From 1990 to 2009 it lost 300 m of length and averaged 13 m of thinning.
The glacier is named after Charles F. Easton of Bellingham, who worked to preserve the history of Mount Baker. Its easy access makes it a popular outing for students of Western Washington University and the University of Washington, and in winter it is reached by snowmobile as well as on foot.
Access requires hiking from trailheads at lower elevations, with routes becoming more challenging as altitude increases. Visitors need proper mountain equipment and should prepare for weather conditions that change quickly in the high alpine environment.
The glacier carved two clear lateral moraines: Metcalf Moraine on the left and Railroad Grade on the right. On the valley floor, andesite outcrops and boulders are polished and glacial striations are easy to see, traces of the ice that has since retreated.
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