Located on the northeast side of Three Fingered Jack, Jack Glacier is no longer labeled on USGS topographic maps and is no generally considered a permanent snowfield rather than an active glacier. It’s elevation is unusually low for a permanent snowfield in the Oregon cascades, a direct result of the very little sunlight it receives due to it’s well protected location on the mountain’s northeast cirque. Ranging in approximate elevation from 6100-6400 feet, evidence of recent glacial activity exists in the cirque occupied by Jack Glacier, including a large terminal moraine at the bottom of the bowl which holds back meltwater and creates a seasonal lake. The photo below, taken in late August 2012, shows the Jack Glacier as it exists today.
Decent turns can be made on the snowfield, though for many it’s hard to justify the hike in for the minimal amount of vertical available. However, the area around the glacier itself, including the wildflowers of Canyon Creek Meadows, more than justifies a summer hike into what many consider to be one of the more scenic places in the Oregon cascades.
* As of the summer of 2017, the remnants of the Jack Glacier are no longer present
