The mechanisms of material excavation and removal from large periglacial landforms known as cryoplanation terraces (CTs) have been debated for over a century. These unknowns hinder acceptance of a unified understanding of CT formation. The research reported in this thesis links sorted stripes-a type of periglacial patterned ground frequently encountered on CT treads-to the hydrologic connectivity of periglacial hillslopes, which has not been considered in the context of CT development. Traditional interpretations hold that the presence of sorted patterned ground indicates geomorphic quiescence, a view that has contributed to the dismissal of these features as a factor in the creation of periglacial topography. This thesis addresses the geomorphic role of sorted stripes as fluvial features by investigating their hydrologic effectiveness in removing weathered material from CT treads. Process-focused investigations and watershed morphometric analysis were conducted on thee cryoplanation terraces in an active upland periglacial environment near Atlin, British Columbia, Canada. Results demonstrate the landscape-scale spatial organization and geomorphic effectiveness of sorted stripe networks for transporting water and suspended sediment across CT surfaces. A qualitative model of sediment production and transportation is presented that: 1) outlines erosional processes responsible for CT formation; and 2) defines the distinct hydrologic-geomorphic imprint imparted by sorted stripes on periglacial hillslopes.
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