Santa Ynez Valley

Santa Ynez Valley
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Thursday, August 2, 2018

Salmon Glacier

A mostly gravel road winds back to the site of the Granduc Copper Mine in British Columbia.  After about 20 miles, there is an overlook of the Salmon Glacier.  We had read and been told we should take the drive to visit the glacier, but had no idea of the scale of the Salmon Glacier and the surrounding scenery with many smaller glaciers in the nearby mountains.

Since the road travels between steep mountains capped with glaciers and snow, summertime produces lots of runoff resulting in many waterfalls of various shapes and sizes.






As you approach Salmon Glacier, the first view is of the south flowing arm.



The current toe or terminus of this branch



The central part of Salmon Glacier



A stitched panorama of the glacier and surrounding mountains



The north flowing arm of the glacier flows into a depression which holds Summit Lake.  Summit Lake drains dramatically under the glacier every summer in a jökulhlaup.  The lake had drained about a week before we visited.


The north flowing arm



Where Summit Lake had been




A few miles past Salmon Glacier is the site of the Granduc Copper Mine which is located next to Berendon Glacier.



A closer view of Berendon Glacier



Because of the heavy winter snowfalls, a tunnel was blasted through this mountain to get men and equipment to the mine and ore out during winter.



A few of the many other small mountaintop glaciers in the area.






We came across a few grouse along a side road.




A grizzly up above the glacier overlook




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