Another View of Cracker Lake

This photo was taken from the opposite side of Cracker Lake, looking back toward the Siyeh Glacier and its headwall. Much of the glacier is covered by talus that has fallen (protalus rampart) from the steep wall behind the glacier (headwall). Siyeh and the other glaciers in the park were most extensive during the peak of the last ice age (about 18,000 years ago). As that ice age ended the glaciers began to melt back much faster than they were flowing (recede). The glaciers experienced another episode of growth during a regional cold period that persisted from the late 1700s until about 1850. Since 1850, the park's glaciers have been melting away fairly quickly. As you can see in the photo, there is not much left of Siyeh Glacier. Unfortunately when it is gone so will be the powder blue color of Cracker Lake.

Crazy Dog . . .
Siyeh (pronounced Sai-yeh) was the name of a reckless Blackfeet warrior. The name means "crazy dog" (or crazy wolf). Evidently Siyeh was such a risk-taker that other men in his tribe would not accompany him when he raided enemy camps to capture horses.

Source:

Rockwell, David. Exploring Glacier National Park. Guilford, Connecticut: Falcon Press, 2002.