Tyndall Glacier, Cirque glacier in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, US
Tyndall Glacier is a cirque glacier positioned along the eastern side of the Continental Divide, forming a natural amphitheater north of Hallett Peak. The ice deposit stretches several hundred meters and contains substantial rock debris mixed with frozen water throughout its formation.
The glacier was named after John Tyndall, a 19th-century Irish scientist who conducted pioneering work on glacier movement. Enos Mills, founder of Rocky Mountain National Park, selected this name to honor Tyndall's scientific contributions to glaciology.
The name honors John Tyndall, an Irish scientist whose research shaped our understanding of glaciers. Visitors can see the ice formations that represent this contribution to geological science.
The hike starts at Bear Lake Trailhead and involves a steep mountain walk that requires good physical fitness over several miles. Start early in the day and prepare for changing mountain weather conditions.
This glacier functions as both an ice and rock formation, with its lower sections containing substantial debris embedded within the frozen structure. The combination creates a hybrid system where stone and ice move together down the mountain slope.
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