Oberaletschgletscher

Overview from Oberaletschhütte (SAC), the area of study is highlighted; however, the largest boulder shown below are hidden. The confluence of Oberaletschgletscher and Beichgletscher is in the lower part of the photo (2010).

Tele photo view of the bend of Beichgletscher where boulder sorting along the medial moraines is evident. The view is towards WSW (2006).

Glacier table with a capping boulder about to fall off towards the left (south); the view is towards the west. Boulders further back, in the middle of the photo, show ice tails (2010).

Glacier table with capping boulder leaning towards the south (left). The ice pedestal is split and crossed by a meltwater stream (2010).

Looking downglacier over Beichgletscher towards the confluence with Oberaletschgletscher. Many boulders with tails towards the left (north) are in the foreground. The boulders have migrated away from the medial moraine visible on the left (2010).

Boulder in the process of slowly sliding off an ice mound. The view is towards the east. Oberaletschhütte (SAC) is the white dot near the dark area above left of the boulder (2010)

The middle section of Beichgletscher carries a number of massive granite boulders. This one has an estimated volume of 800 cubic metres and a mass of more than 2000 tons. Despite the massive weight, it seems to be able to migrate, leaving an ice tail which is just visible on the far right. View is towards WNW (2010).

The same boulder, but looking downglacier, towards SE. In the left foreground is the ice tail, indicating a former position of the boulder. On the right is a depression in the glacier surface, caused by increased ablation due to heat emission from the boulder after it has been heated up by the sun (2010).

The same scene as in the previous image, from a slightly different angle. Below the boulder, on the left, a continuation of the ice tail is emerging. The boulder seems to continue migrating towards the person, i.e. to the south (2010).

Freshly fallen snow accentuates boulder sorting on the left (south) side of the medial moraine on which the photographer is standing; view towards WNW, upglacier. On the right (north) side of the moraine, no boulder sorting seems to take place (2010).