Dressed in matching royal blue jackets, black over trousers and with a delightful red bumbag to carry, we started the day with a helicopter ride to Franz Josef glacier. We were both deemed to tall/heavy to go in the front seats so I had to settle for a window seat at the back, which was still pretty cool. Rising rapidly the landscape spread out before us - a steep glacial valley with a turbulent river flowing across its huge bed. Flying up the valley illuminated more of the glacier to us and we were excited to get on the ice!
A little windswept after disembarking from the helicopter, we strapped on our crampons and set off along the ice. Our guide (called Tom, I was gutted to miss out on a guide called "Sexy Redhead Pete" who had received great reviews on TripAdvisor - I did get a glance at them though) had some interesting tales for us as we hiked, including a legend about how the glacier was really formed from the tears of someone who lost their lover to a blizzard on the top of a mountain. He also told us geographical titbits, such as the fact that the glacier moves at up to 7m a day in some areas, which I found astonishing.
High up, the blue ice was certainly a sight to see. There were mini streams, pools and caves, as well as long tunnels and crevasses, which we hiked through (whilst breathing in in some cases). It was very warm on the glacier as the weather was perfectly clear. I was particularly glad of this as I was able to rid myself of the sexy jacket and very restrictive overtrousers - the sort that are far too baggy around the waist yet too still too short and the crotch was hanging around my knees...
The heli ride back was thrilling, with a sharp rise right next to the glacier followed by a sharp drop (one of those ones you feel in your head) and a fast corner. Once back, and thankfully still with and appetite after the help ride, we drove to Lake Mapourika and had lunch. Still hot from the hiking and driving, we then took a quick dip in the lake to the benefit of the local sandfly population, who seemed to enjoy it as much as I did.
Possibly in an odd order, but right after the swim we hiked to Peter's pools to admire the reflection of the glacier, and then up Sentinel Rock to ogle the glacier again. This interestingly showed a photo montage of how the glacier had changed over the last few years. In the 50s it was massive, where we were standing would have been part of the glacial lake. By 1975 it was significantly reduced although interestingly this trend did not continue consistently as the glacier did actually increase in size in the 80s, before once again reducing to it's current state. By 2100 I doubt if any of it will be visible from where I was standing.
A little windswept after disembarking from the helicopter, we strapped on our crampons and set off along the ice. Our guide (called Tom, I was gutted to miss out on a guide called "Sexy Redhead Pete" who had received great reviews on TripAdvisor - I did get a glance at them though) had some interesting tales for us as we hiked, including a legend about how the glacier was really formed from the tears of someone who lost their lover to a blizzard on the top of a mountain. He also told us geographical titbits, such as the fact that the glacier moves at up to 7m a day in some areas, which I found astonishing.
High up, the blue ice was certainly a sight to see. There were mini streams, pools and caves, as well as long tunnels and crevasses, which we hiked through (whilst breathing in in some cases). It was very warm on the glacier as the weather was perfectly clear. I was particularly glad of this as I was able to rid myself of the sexy jacket and very restrictive overtrousers - the sort that are far too baggy around the waist yet too still too short and the crotch was hanging around my knees...
The heli ride back was thrilling, with a sharp rise right next to the glacier followed by a sharp drop (one of those ones you feel in your head) and a fast corner. Once back, and thankfully still with and appetite after the help ride, we drove to Lake Mapourika and had lunch. Still hot from the hiking and driving, we then took a quick dip in the lake to the benefit of the local sandfly population, who seemed to enjoy it as much as I did.
Possibly in an odd order, but right after the swim we hiked to Peter's pools to admire the reflection of the glacier, and then up Sentinel Rock to ogle the glacier again. This interestingly showed a photo montage of how the glacier had changed over the last few years. In the 50s it was massive, where we were standing would have been part of the glacial lake. By 1975 it was significantly reduced although interestingly this trend did not continue consistently as the glacier did actually increase in size in the 80s, before once again reducing to it's current state. By 2100 I doubt if any of it will be visible from where I was standing.
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