On 22.7.2019 we made the following observations at the Hohlicht glacier:
Glacier end
Since our last visit (2017), the Hohlicht glacier has retreated further and lost its thickness.
Ice front at the end of the Hohlichtgletscher on 22.7.2019.
The ice thickness is still about 30m.
Ice surface behind front
The ice surface lowers behind the highest point of the front. I.e. the ice thickness is less than it appears from the front.
Ice surface behind the ice front of the Hohlicht glacier on 22.7.2019.
Circular structures have formed on the western half of the ice surface (dead ice) behind the front.
Circular structures on the ice surface behind the ice front of the Hohlichtgletscher on 22.7.2019.
The circular structures could be the harbingers of a larger hole or crater.
Glacier gate
The
glacier gate has not changed much since our last visit in July 2017. It is simply further back than it was then.
Glacier gate of the Hohlicht glacier on 22.7.2019.
Rock blocks in glacial ice
In the ice wall of the front of the Hohlicht glacier, rocks of different sizes can be seen.
Rock fragments in the glacier ice of the Hohlicht glacier
These boulders were previously enclosed by ice and were transported downstream by the flowing ice. The melting of the glacier now exposes them and they will soon fall onto the glacier forfield.
Most of the many boulders lying in front of the glacier probably originate from the surface of the Hohlicht glacier.
Western lateral moraine
From the western lateral moraine a piece has slipped down about halfway up.
Landslide western lateral moraine Hohlicht glacier overview
Landslide western lateral moraine Hohlicht glacier.
Glacier ice can be seen below the starting edge. D.h. die westliche Moräne ist vor dem Gletscher wahrscheinlich noch nicht zu 100% eisfrei. I.e. the western lateral moraine is probably not 100% ice-free before the glacier.
Snow situation
The snow situation were approximately the same as during the two previous visits in 2015 and 2017.
In 2015 and 2017, we photographed Hobärg glacier, Festi glacier and Kin glacier (all western sides of the Mischabel massif) from the forfield of Hohlicht glacier. These three glaciers also had snow cover as in 2015 and 2017.
Dendrite
Directly in front of the Hohlichtgletscher we discovered so-called dendrites on different rocks.
Probably manganese oxide dendrites.
Dendrites on boulder in front of Hohlichtgletscher.
Dendrites on boulder in front of Hohlichtgletscher.
Many thanks to Biagio Di Mauro for the hint.
Published:
31.07.2019