Just past the East Fork of the Toklat River, the Denali Park road climbs Polychrome Mountain and opens to the vast open Plains of Murie. On the far side, the Polychrome Glaciers and various peaks of the Alaska Range stand tall.
The geology of this area is particularly remarkable! Faintly visible in the valleys to the south are the Polychrome Glaciers - all of which terminate in dark, debris covered ice fields due to their rapid retreat as the climate has warmed.
Across the Plains of Murie (named after the wildlife biologist Adolph Murie) look for large glacier erratics - massive boulders deposited by the historical march of glaciers across the land.
You'll also see the shine of various kettle ponds to the east which are formed by retreating glaciers and thick layers of permafrost.
Just past the East Fork of the Toklat River, the Denali Park road climbs Polychrome Mountain and opens to the vast open Plains of Murie. On the far side, the Polychrome Glaciers and various peaks of the Alaska Range stand tall.
The geology of this area is particularly remarkable! Faintly visible in the valleys to the south are the Polychrome Glaciers - all of which terminate in dark, debris covered ice fields due to their rapid retreat as the climate has warmed.
Across the Plains of Murie (named after the wildlife biologist Adolph Murie) look for large glacier erratics - massive boulders deposited by the historical march of glaciers across the land.
You'll also see the shine of various kettle ponds to the east which are formed by retreating glaciers and thick layers of permafrost.
