19.09.2022: Observations Fieschergletscher (Fieschertal, Bernese Alps)

The snout of the Fieschergletscher is covered with a lot of debris and has retreated further since our last visit in 2019.

The snout of the Fieschergletscher no longer presents the picture one would expect of a glacier snout. It consists practically only of dead ice covered with a lot of debris.

The glacier gate of the Fieschergletscher was of considerable size on 19.9.2022. Signs of decay can be seen to the right and left of the glacier gate.

The forefield of the Fiescher glacier shows beautifully why the forefield of a glacier is also called a 'sander'. The glacier stream can fully develop in this area.

The northern part of the foreland of the Fieschergletscher from a different perspective.

The southern part of the apron (almost) from a bird's eye view.

The southern part of the apron from a different perspective.

Due to the melting of the ice, the counterpressure on the rock faces is decreasing. As a result, a few large boulders have broken out of the rock face and fallen onto dead ice of the Fieschergletscher.

On the eastern edge of the southern part of the glacier fore-rock, a beautiful cone of debris has formed. The very large boulder was still part of the rock face above in 2019. Comparison photos showing this process will follow.

In 1928, the great glacier-cut formations were still covered by glacier ice. On the left is the southern part of the glacier forefield. It is >125m lower than the highest points of the glacial polish humps.