Gabriel Icefall

The Gabriel Icefall on the Gulkana Glacier sits between Ogive Mountain (left) and Skull Peak (right). This impressive mass of heavily crevassed ice is nearly 700 feet tall, originating in one of the 4 accumulation basins on the Gulkana, the Gabriel being the lowest on the glacier. It’s an impressive sight that can be seen from the Richardson Highway and is one of the first major features that can be seen on the short hike to the glacier. The icefall was named by Troy L. Péwé, a well-known geologist and permafrost scientist with the USGS.

Icefalls are really interesting features on glaciers, often very pretty and impressive as they convey a powerful image. They are heavily crevassed and form seracs because they flow at a much faster rate than the ice can deform plastically like it often can above or below the icefall.