Notes on the “Muir Glacier” of Alaska

Abstract

IN a recent number of NATURE (vol. xxxii. p. 162) an abstract is made of a San Francisco newspaper account of the “Great Glacier” of Alaska. This account is not very accurate, and as I spent a few hours on this glacier during a flying visit to Alaska in the summer of 1884, I think my observations may be worth recording. I have heard that some descriptions by American observers have already been published, but have not been able to procure them. However, as there are one or two features to which it may be useful to draw the attention of future explorers in this region, I will give my observations just as I made them, and apologise beforehand if they should be found to overlap those of others.