A glacial leftover

The steep trail through Schoolgirls’ Glen reveals much in its short length. The glen is a dramatic narrow valley in the most recent glacial moraine, with remnants of an earlier glacial deposit beneath.

Erosion—past and current

The current valley bottom shows severe erosion from street run-off. Even so, the glen is one of the best natural areas around. Destructive flash floods are caused by too much storm water—a consequence of little concern when campus expanded into this small watershed in the mid-20th-century. Erosion control is now an important ecological issue.