I hesitated for a moment to comment on this, as while there is no doubt that global warming is occurring - a significant portion of this country continues to not acknowledge this, nor the substantial evidence of that warming which has accumulated since 10 years ago, let alone 20 years ago. Nevertheless, it should be noted that Glacier National Park has never, in the history of the United States, contained a particularly large or special collection of glaciers. Even within the terms of the contiguous 48 States, the most-outstanding collection of glaciers has always been in North Cascades National Park, not in Glacier National Park. But as North Cascades wasn't established until the 1960's, doesn't have "glacier" in the name, and has never had an iconic on-site Lodge; it simply doesn't get the same press as Glacier National Park. Thus, it is worth noting that in UNESCO's recommendation for listing Waterton-Glacier National Parks as World Heritage Sites, the glaciers aren't even mentioned! Instead, UNESCO lists the following features: outstanding Precambrian rocks and fossils; the biological transition zones between mountain and prairie, as well as between the northern and southern Rocky Mts.; a location sitting astride watersheds into the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans; preserving nationally endangered species, particularly 98% of the world's Westslope Cutthroat Trout; outstanding aesthetic natural beauty; and the cultural and historical significance of being the first cross-border National Park. The closest "glaciers" come to being mentioned in that list is simply the extent to which the glaciers contribute to the overall natural beauty of the Park. You can read the full report here: http://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/354.pdf Of course, that's only sensible, Glacier National Park's glaciers are simply unremarkably on a world level; or even a national level - particularly if you include Alaska. So, while the melting of the glaciers in Glacier National Park is a great way of getting (some admittedly much-needed) "media buzz" on the global warming issue, the truth of the matter is that the melting of the glaciers in Glacier National Park is probably inevitable at this point, but is ultimately not of the most dire consequences for the planet or human civilization.

Yes, it's certainly not a dire-consequences thing. But it's still a hot-button issue that could well grab public attention and lead to the refocusing of efforts to push the Bush administration into gear on the overall climate change policy (non-policy, perhaps, is a better way of putting it). Conservation groups should be hammering away with pictures in hand; a road show, media treks, the whole shebang.

Global warming would get more exposure if the city folks could afford to go to the parks. These Friends of Franchise's " non profits " are doing well to support there own administration with high wages and unlimited access to our parks. It is my Goal to set up one of these "non profit" franchises and bring millions of people out of San Diego to show them that there are other beautiful places in the world. I will call it www.handsacrossthetetons.com or www.rawwnews.com Just so you know who I am. I quit driving a car for eight years (1979-1986)while I lived in Jackson Hole (I thought we would have been out of oil by now) I Telemark ski, have ridden on a snow machine once and own a sailboat in San Diego.