Challenger Glacier (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Challenger Glacier |
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Challenger Glacier on the north slope of Mount Challenger
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 Challenger Glacier
Location in Washington (state)
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| Type | Alpine glacier |
| Coordinates | 48°50′44″N 121°20′50″W / 48.84556°N 121.34722°W |
| Length | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) |
| Terminus | Barren rock/icefall/proglacial lake |
| Status | Retreating |
The Challenger Glacier is a large ice mass found in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington. It sits on the northern side of Mount Challenger. This glacier is known for its impressive size and features.
About Challenger Glacier
Challenger Glacier is an alpine glacier. This means it forms in mountain valleys and moves downhill. It stretches about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long. The glacier starts high up, around 8,000 feet (2,400 meters), and flows down to about 5,000 feet (1,500 meters).
Features of the Glacier
This glacier is quite wide, measuring over 2 miles (3.2 km) across. As it moves, it develops many deep cracks called crevasses. It also has several icefalls, which are steep, broken sections of ice. A part of the glacier in the north flows into a proglacial lake. This is a lake formed by the melting ice at the end of the glacier. The Challenger Glacier is currently getting smaller, which is known as retreating.
Exploring Mount Challenger
Many people who want to climb to the top of Mount Challenger use the glacier as part of their route. It's one of the most common ways to reach the summit.
