Images of the San Rafael Glacier December 2003

The following group of photos were taken on the first brilliant sunny day we had had in about one month. The rumbling, groaning and cracking was incredibly loud as we floated amongst the ice chunks.

The San Rafael Glacier is about 1.2 nautical miles wide, stands 230 feet above the water, and drops 760 feet below the water surface. It is estimated to be around 300,000 years old, and originates in the San Valentin ice fields to the east. Evidence of its recession is clearly marked along the cliffsides. Using the eye and the radar for measurement, it has receeded almost 1/2 mile since 1978.