May 11, 2010 marked the 100th anniversary of Glacier National Park. I remember reading an article somewhere on the Internets that talked about the effects of climate change on the remnant glaciers there, and that they would only be around for another ten years.

That's crazy to me. Here's something that has been around for thousands of years, and yet it's transient, and about to disappear. Sure, ten years is a pretty long time, but it's a drop in the bucket for something that been around a thousand times as long. We're witnessing the "last breaths" of this prehistoric ice.

When I was talking to my son, he was naturally inquisitive, "Where did the ice come from?" "How much is there?" "When can we go see it?" It was this last question that really caught my attention. I looked up the distance and it is over 1800 miles from our home in Michigan. I feel like I'm on a deadline, though. Ten years (looking at the USGS site, it may be more like 20) from now the ice will be gone. Forever.

I know that the earth goes through normal cycles. I also believe that humans are significantly contributing to the current warming cycle, probably exacerbating it. Our family has made changes -- If you are reading this, your family has probably made some too. Keep up the good work. Think of it as "Leave no trace" on a global scale.

I made a promise to my son. We'll see the ice in Glacier National Park. I guess I'd better get packing... we've got 1800 miles ahead of us.