Cloud Peak Glacier, Active glacier in Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming, United States.
Cloud Peak Glacier is an active glacier in Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains spanning roughly 22 hectares at an elevation of about 3,600 meters (11,800 feet). Its terminus features a melt-water lake and rocky debris fields characteristic of a glacier at this stage.
This glacier has transformed dramatically over the past century due to rising temperatures and changing climate patterns. Between 1905 and 2005, its volume decreased by roughly 85 percent, reflecting the intense impact of warming on this landscape.
The glacier and surrounding mountains hold spiritual and cultural meaning for Indigenous peoples of Wyoming, appearing in their traditional stories and remaining central to their connection with this landscape.
Reaching this location requires mountaineering skills and good physical fitness due to steep terrain and high elevation throughout the Bighorn National Forest. Visitors should plan for altitude adjustment and bring appropriate gear including crampons for icy sections.
This is the last remaining glacier in the entire Bighorn Mountains range, making it a rare feature in this region. Scientists studying climate change recognize it as an important indicator of how quickly alpine environments are transforming.
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