Whitman Glacier
Encyclopedia
The Whitman Glacier is a medium-sized glacier
on the eastern flank of Little Tahoma Peak, a sub-peak of Mount Rainier
in Washington. Named for the missionary Marcus Whitman
, it covers 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) and contains 4.4 billion ft3 (125 million m3) of ice. Starting from near the rocky spire of Little Tahoma
at 10000 feet (3,048 m), the glacier flows southeast downhill. A small snowfield connects this glacier with the adjacent Fryingpan Glacier
at about 9200 feet (2,804.2 m). As the Whitman Glacier flows southeast, the Whitman Crest bounds the glacier to the northeast. Upon reaching a flatter plateau at about 8300 feet (2,529.8 m), the glacier does not flow far before reaching its terminus at 8200 feet (2,499.4 m) to 7800 ft (2,377.4 m). The small Ohanapecosh Glacier
lies east of the terminus. Meltwater from the glacier drains into the Cowlitz River
.
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
on the eastern flank of Little Tahoma Peak, a sub-peak of Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
in Washington. Named for the missionary Marcus Whitman
Marcus Whitman
Marcus Whitman was an American physician and Oregon missionary in the Oregon Country. Along with his wife Narcissa Whitman he started a mission in what is now southeastern Washington state in 1836, which would later become a stop along the Oregon Trail...
, it covers 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) and contains 4.4 billion ft3 (125 million m3) of ice. Starting from near the rocky spire of Little Tahoma
Little Tahoma
Little Tahoma Peak, also called Little Tahoma, is a satellite peak of Mount Rainier in Pierce County, Washington and in Mount Rainier National Park. It is quite noticeable from Seattle over away....
at 10000 feet (3,048 m), the glacier flows southeast downhill. A small snowfield connects this glacier with the adjacent Fryingpan Glacier
Fryingpan Glacier
The Fryingpan Glacier is a medium-sized glacier on the eastern face of the Little Tahoma Peak just to the east of Mount Rainier in Washington. It covers an area of 1.3 mi2 and contains 2.9 billion ft3 of ice...
at about 9200 feet (2,804.2 m). As the Whitman Glacier flows southeast, the Whitman Crest bounds the glacier to the northeast. Upon reaching a flatter plateau at about 8300 feet (2,529.8 m), the glacier does not flow far before reaching its terminus at 8200 feet (2,499.4 m) to 7800 ft (2,377.4 m). The small Ohanapecosh Glacier
Ohanapecosh Glacier
The Ohanapecosh Glacier is small glacier located on Mount Rainier's southeastern flanks in Washington. It covers and contains 1.3 billion ft3 of ice. The glacier consists of several lobes of ice interconnected by thin snowfields. Most of the glacier lies at an elevation of to , near the Whitman...
lies east of the terminus. Meltwater from the glacier drains into the Cowlitz River
Cowlitz River
The Cowlitz River is a river in the state of Washington in the United States, a tributary of the Columbia River. Its tributaries drain a large region including the slopes of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount St. Helens....
.