Pemberton Icefield
Encyclopedia
The Pemberton Icefield, also known unofficially as the Pemberton Icecap, is the southernmost of the series of very large icefields studding the Pacific Ranges
of the southern Coast Mountains
in British Columbia
, Canada
. Approximately 300 km² (115.8 sq mi) in area, the icefield's shape is roughly triangular, with an apex on its northern side, where a short gap separates the ice-mass from that of the smaller Overseer Icefield. Some reckonings include the icemasses of the Overseer massif, in which case the Pemberton Icefield's area may be considered to be ~60 km² (23.2 sq mi) larger in area. Overseer Mountain is the highest summit in the region lying in the triangle between the basins of the Lillooet, Squamish-Elaho and Cheakamus-Green valleys, although the highest named summit in the Pemberton Icefield proper is Longspur Peak, on the main icefield's northwest flank above the Ryan River
, although a higher, unnamed summit lies in between them, at the northernmost edge of the icefield. Just east of Longspur are Kwtamts Peak and Sisqa Peak, among other names conferred in the St'at'imcets language spoken by the Lil'wat people, whose traditional territory includes the eastern reaches and related valleys of the icefield. The southernmost summit of the icefield is Exodus Peak, which lies in the angle between the uppermost reaches of the Squamish River and the valley of the Elaho River
, a tributary of the Squamish.
Streams having their origin in the icecap include the Squamish River
and Soo River
on its southern edge, Rutherford Creek
of its eastern point, the Ryan River
off its northeast side, and tributary streams to the Elaho River
, a tributary of the Squamish, on the west, and the south fork of Meager Creek
, on its north side, another tributary of the Lillooet. Other smaller icefields nearby are the Ipsoot Glacier (also known as the Ipsoot Icefield) to the east, on the north side of Rutherford Creek, and the Powder Mountain Icefield
to the south, beyond the divide separating the headwaters of the Squamish and Soo Rivers.
Located very close to the Resort Municipality of Whistler
, the icefield is popular with back-country skiers heli-skiing operations, and also summer heli-hiking and has been a location as a stand-in for Antarctica or locations in the Arctic for various films, including the X-Files movie and in the Stargate: Atlantis TV series.
Pacific Ranges
The Pacific Ranges are the southernmost subdivision of the Coast Mountains portion of the Pacific Cordillera. Located entirely within British Columbia, Canada, they run northwest from the lower stretches of the Fraser River to Bella Coola, north of which are the Kitimat Ranges.The Pacific Ranges...
of the southern Coast Mountains
Coast Mountains
The Coast Mountains are a major mountain range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, of western North America, extending from southwestern Yukon through the Alaska Panhandle and virtually all of the Coast of British Columbia. They are so-named because of their proximity to the sea coast, and are often...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Approximately 300 km² (115.8 sq mi) in area, the icefield's shape is roughly triangular, with an apex on its northern side, where a short gap separates the ice-mass from that of the smaller Overseer Icefield. Some reckonings include the icemasses of the Overseer massif, in which case the Pemberton Icefield's area may be considered to be ~60 km² (23.2 sq mi) larger in area. Overseer Mountain is the highest summit in the region lying in the triangle between the basins of the Lillooet, Squamish-Elaho and Cheakamus-Green valleys, although the highest named summit in the Pemberton Icefield proper is Longspur Peak, on the main icefield's northwest flank above the Ryan River
Ryan River
The Ryan River is a short but major tributary of the Lillooet River, running largely eastward approximately 42 km from its source on the eastern flank of the Pemberton Icefield before joining the Lillooet River in the area of Pemberton Meadows.-References:*...
, although a higher, unnamed summit lies in between them, at the northernmost edge of the icefield. Just east of Longspur are Kwtamts Peak and Sisqa Peak, among other names conferred in the St'at'imcets language spoken by the Lil'wat people, whose traditional territory includes the eastern reaches and related valleys of the icefield. The southernmost summit of the icefield is Exodus Peak, which lies in the angle between the uppermost reaches of the Squamish River and the valley of the Elaho River
Elaho River
The Elaho River is a c.70 km long river beginning in the Coast Mountains northwest of the towns of Whistler and Pemberton, British Columbia. It is a tributary of the Squamish River and is known for its whitewater rafting and kayaking as well as for the intense alpine scenery lining its...
, a tributary of the Squamish.
Streams having their origin in the icecap include the Squamish River
Squamish River
The Squamish River is a short but very large river in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Its drainage basin is in size. The total length of the Squamish River is approximately .-Course:...
and Soo River
Soo River
The Soo River is a tributary of the Green River in the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, Canada, joining that river just north of the Resort Municipality of Whistler...
on its southern edge, Rutherford Creek
Rutherford Creek
Rutherford Creek is a tributary of the Green River, British Columbia, Canada, entering that river a few miles above Nairn Falls Provincial Park, near the village of Pemberton. The creek's headwaters are on the eastern side of the Pemberton Icefield. from where it flows southeast for the first half...
of its eastern point, the Ryan River
Ryan River
The Ryan River is a short but major tributary of the Lillooet River, running largely eastward approximately 42 km from its source on the eastern flank of the Pemberton Icefield before joining the Lillooet River in the area of Pemberton Meadows.-References:*...
off its northeast side, and tributary streams to the Elaho River
Elaho River
The Elaho River is a c.70 km long river beginning in the Coast Mountains northwest of the towns of Whistler and Pemberton, British Columbia. It is a tributary of the Squamish River and is known for its whitewater rafting and kayaking as well as for the intense alpine scenery lining its...
, a tributary of the Squamish, on the west, and the south fork of Meager Creek
Meager Creek
Meager Creek is a creek in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, Canada. It flows northeast into the Lillooet River....
, on its north side, another tributary of the Lillooet. Other smaller icefields nearby are the Ipsoot Glacier (also known as the Ipsoot Icefield) to the east, on the north side of Rutherford Creek, and the Powder Mountain Icefield
Powder Mountain Icefield
The Powder Mountain Icefield, also called the Powder Mountain Icecap and the Cayley Icefield, is a glacial field in the Pacific Ranges of southwestern British Columbia, Canada, about west of Whistler and about north of Vancouver...
to the south, beyond the divide separating the headwaters of the Squamish and Soo Rivers.
Located very close to the Resort Municipality of Whistler
Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler is a Canadian resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the province of British Columbia, Canada, approximately north of Vancouver...
, the icefield is popular with back-country skiers heli-skiing operations, and also summer heli-hiking and has been a location as a stand-in for Antarctica or locations in the Arctic for various films, including the X-Files movie and in the Stargate: Atlantis TV series.