Customer Reviews

Glaciers of California: Modern Glaciers, Ice Age Glaciers, the Origin of Yosemite Valley, and a Glacier Tour in the Sierra Nevada (California Natural History Guides)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bill Guyton, professor emeritus of geosciences at Cal State Chico, has
written an excellent book designed to teach people with little
knowledge of geology about the glaciers of California.

The book
discusses glaciers and ice ages in general, discovery of glaciers in
California, glacial chronology, and techniques used to determine ages
of glaciations; then goes on to describe ice-age and modern glaciers
throughout California. As a bonus, Guyton has included a chapter
about the controversy surrounded formation of Yosemite Valley and a
field trip through Yosemite on which readers may see glaciers and
their effects on the landscape.

Though the book is fairly complete,
well researched, and certainly well written, Guyton might have
discussed general concepts of glaciation a little bit more thoroughly.
In addition, Guyton omits recent highly controversial (and perhaps
faulty) research done in Yosemite by Jeffrey Schaffer (see _The
Geomorphic Evolution of the Yosemite Valley and Sierra Nevada
Landscapes: Solving the Riddles in the Rocks_, 1997).

The book,
however, is an excellent book for anyone wanting to learn more about
California's glaciers.

I essentially agree with the previous review, with the exception that the absence of references to J. P. Schaffer's work on glaciation in the Sierra Nevada should not be viewed as a problem with the book. Speaking as a glacial geologist who has worked extensively in the Sierra Nevada, the public should know that Schaffer's work has repeatedly failed to pass scientific peer review. Until it does so, it would be irresponsible for other authors, like Guyton, to present it in any publication purporting to be a synopsis of current scientific thinking. Guyton has done a very commendable job of summarizing the latest CRITICALLY REVIEWED thinking on timing and geomorphic effects of ancient glaciation in the Sierra. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about modern and ancient glaciers of California.

This is a basic, understandable review of the Ice Age and later glaciation of the mountains of California. The focus is on Yosemite, but other mountains in California are briefly covered. Glaciers that are present now date to the Little Ice Age, from 100- 700 years old only. They are shrinking fast. But older, "big" ice-age glaciers covered these mountains, starting with the glaciations of 1.5 million years ago. After reading the book, you understand why our mountains are so dramatically sculpted. The author briefly discusses the causes of cyclical changes in the temperature of the Northern hemisphere that accounts for recurrence of ice ages. There follows a good tour of Yosemite, by car,foot, and backpack, where you can see modern glaciers as well as the evidence of ancient ice ages. Many mountaineering terms (Col, Horn, Aręte, Couloirs,etc) refer to mountain features that are products of glaciation, and are defined. There is a good glossary. Hikers, climbers, and mountain-visitors will enjoy this good book.

This is the most interesting and useful book on California glaciers, particularly in the High Sierra, that I have come across.

Author Bill Guyton is a Cal State Chico emeritus geology professor who has apparently done glacier field work, especially in the Palisades region, but the book is well written in a manner accessible to anyone with an interest in the topic.

Besides the general (apparently conventional but still evolving) history of California's Ice Age glaciations, a topic covered in a number of books on the Sierra, Guyton focuses on the details of prior epochs' alpine glaciations - the lower Northern California mountains and the southernmost documented glaciers that occurred in the San Gabriel Mountains just east of Los Angeles.

The most interesting section for hikers is Guyton's inventory of current high country glaciers on Mt. Shasta, in the High Sierra and some tiny ones in the Trinity Alps. Reviewing the calculations of other geologist and applying his own knowledge and definitions Guyton determines there are currently (as of 1998?) 509 California glaciers. Actually he counts 108 actual glaciers and 401 "glacierets". To me the "glacierets" category really represents what are presently (for the time being) permanent ice patches which are the remnants of previously active, i.e., flowing, glaciers. Given the rapid retreat of most Sierra ice it seems possible that each year one or more of the 108 "true" glaciers is becoming a "glacieret" each year. The winter of 2004-2005 was an extremely heavy snow year in the High Sierra, but by September, after an unusually warm spring and typical summer, the Yosemite high country did not seem to have significantly more end-of-season snow cover than usual although the September meadows were a bit greener and more mosquito infested than I would normally expect. Therefore I don't think anyone anticipates any of the "glacierets" will expand to become glaciers again in the near future.

One of the best features of the book for either hikers or car tourists interested in seeing actual glacier phenomenon is the section "Seeing for Yourself" that describes in detail a drive across Yosemite National Park from Glacier Point, over Tioga Pass and down to Lee Vining with suggested stops and day hikes to see both formerly glaciated landscapes and some living glacial remnants.

Guyton emphasizes the long run view of geologic history and refers more than once to the fact that periodic advances of California's alpine glaciers, followed by their total disappearance for long periods, has been the normal situation for eons. In doing so he subtly provides a reality check on some of the hysterical end-of-the-world global warming hoopla that pervades the media.

The book has lots of useful black and white photos plus a section of color photographs as well as typical geology text diagrams of glaciers and related phenomenon. There is one map showing the maximum extent of California glaciations and a map-like diagram of Mt. Shasta's current glaciers, but some more detailed maps of current glaciers in the two most described areas - the Palisades and Yosemite's Tioga Pass region - would have been useful. I'd also like to see some "then and now" comparison photos of some of the glaciers.

Highly recommended for hikers, climbers and amateur naturalists who want to know more about the glaciated landscape and Ice Age glacier remnants in California, particularly in the High Sierra.

Buy this book! It is destined to become a collector's item. Prof. Emeritus Bill Guyton of Cal State Chico laboriously reviewed perhaps hundreds of research papers on California's past glaciers and he has presented his synopsis in a highly readable, enjoyable book. For his effort, I give him 5 stars. Unfortunately, he was a compiler, not a field glaciologist, so he has seen very little of the total past-glacial evidence. More unfortunately, for the Sierra Nevada, which easily contained the vast bulk of past glaciers, roughly 80-90% of these glaciers - essentially those on the west side - have been grossly misinterpreted with regard to size, thickness and age. Indeed, the USGS mapped some "old glacial deposits" from aerial photos, but if you hike to these locations, you'll find no glacial evidence whatsoever. Because this book contains soooo much downright poor glacial mapping, the information in this book rates one star. (This is NOT the author's fault.) As I said, buy it, for decades from now, people will want to know what was believed at the end of the 20th century. Bill had planned to incorporate my preliminary, new-view research into his book, but the editors nixed it. As Bill wrote me, the editors said that he "should stick to generally accepted ideas and information. People reading my book would not have the background to judge the controversy, would not be interested in it, and including it would be a distraction." (We must not let the public know that science has raging controversies.) Had my book, The Geomorphic Evolution of the Yosemite and Sierra Nevada Landscapes, been in print before Prof. Guyton's book went to press, perhaps there would have been a better chance of my ideas being mentioned in it. I now take professors, geologists, geographers, and students into the range and make more converts every year. The new interpretation, based in part on well-known laws of glacial physics (which all west-side mappers have ignored), ultimately will win out. Still, there is strong opposition, perhaps most vociferously by a youthful professor, Doug Clark, who has yet to visit my 300 sites of glacial and uplift evidence. To quote Peter Birkeland, who reviewed my book (Quaternary Research, 1998, v. 50, p. 201): "In the spirit of fair play, the answer to all of "Schaffer's views lies in the field, so I challenge interested workers to put the book in their rucksacks, hike through the Sierra Nevada, and make up their own mind. How lucky we are that this is the best way for geologists and geographers to resolve controversies." And, none other than Prof. Guyton is urging me on. He is an honorable man.