Trail Ridge Sackungen
One of the best places in Colorado to view these significant geologic features is Trail Ridge Road in
Rocky Mountain National Park (40.41653 N,-105.74619 W) near Iceberg Pass. Notice how in the aerial view below that the sackungen are concentrated in the vicinity of Iceberg Pass but not so noticeable as one moves along Trail Ridge away from there. That is probably because the ice in the cirque on the north side of the pass was eating back toward the ice of the glacier in Forest Canyon. Therefore, when the ice was no longer there to support the narrow ridge, the body forces within the ridge caused it to begin spreading.
Photo: V. Matthews
Sackungen are easy to view in the Alpine tundra of Colorado's highest continuous highway - perhaps even easier when you fly over in an airplane!
Photo: V. Matthews Aerial image showing parallel sackungen
Colorado Geological Survey
Last Updated:
12/31/2012 11:03 AM