Day 300 (Thu 3 May) - Fox Glacier
Up early to get ready for our walk on the glacier!
Arranged to meet up with Keith and Ruth later on in the afternoon as they were going on their heli flight this morning. As we wandered off down the road we heard a noise behind us. Turning we saw Ruth belting down the driveway holding a camera. We stopped, and a slightly out of breath Ruth explained that she hadn't taken a photo of us. All photo requirements met we hurried on.
Got to the centre where our boots were checked to see if they would be able to take the crampons that they supply. Luckily they did otherwise we would have been forced to wear the massively uncomfortable boots that they supply.
As we waited we saw Ruth and Keith appear. They were very early for their flight (apparently Ruth was getting a little excited to the extent she forgot to put on her walking boots) which was just as well as their flight time had been brought forward. Turns out that they would have been sharing the flight with a salad dodging chap. He was so big that they had to reorganise the flights so that only he was in the chopper. This gave the helicopter a chance to get off the ground. Sarb thought that they should really have slung the fat git on a winch and airlifted him round the glacier.
Soon after Keith and Ruth left by car to go to the helipad. We got some odd looking crampons and stuffed them in our heavy rucksack (Jo thought we should take enough emergency food for a week incase we got stranded).
Set off on the bus that took us to the terminal face of Fox Glacier.
Started walking up a steep path alongside the glacier. Apparently in years gone by the glacier would have been so big that it would have covered our heads by a good hundred metres or so!
We were quite surprised to see quite a number of people wheezing and spluttering as they made their way up the path. It was steep but not that steep!
Got to the side of the glacier where we grabbed a wooden walking stick each and put our crampons off. Set off onto the ice; it was literally rock hard.
Wandered round the glacier marvelling at the fascinating shapes of the ice. Saw loads of ice holes and wind blown carvings as we walked carefully by ( [1], [2], [3] ).
It was quite incredible looking down the valley to the terminal face and back up to the top.
Stayed on the ice for a bit then walked back down. Got the bus back to the centre where we met a beaming Keith and Ruth. Went over the road for a drink and then headed back to the campsite.
Sat outside in the glorious sunshine chatting and drinking vino. A brilliant day had by all. Spent the evening looking through all our photos. Keith and Ruths photo at the top of the glacier was excellent.
Ruth made an excellent tuna and jacket spud dinner.
Arranged to meet up with Keith and Ruth later on in the afternoon as they were going on their heli flight this morning. As we wandered off down the road we heard a noise behind us. Turning we saw Ruth belting down the driveway holding a camera. We stopped, and a slightly out of breath Ruth explained that she hadn't taken a photo of us. All photo requirements met we hurried on.
Got to the centre where our boots were checked to see if they would be able to take the crampons that they supply. Luckily they did otherwise we would have been forced to wear the massively uncomfortable boots that they supply.
As we waited we saw Ruth and Keith appear. They were very early for their flight (apparently Ruth was getting a little excited to the extent she forgot to put on her walking boots) which was just as well as their flight time had been brought forward. Turns out that they would have been sharing the flight with a salad dodging chap. He was so big that they had to reorganise the flights so that only he was in the chopper. This gave the helicopter a chance to get off the ground. Sarb thought that they should really have slung the fat git on a winch and airlifted him round the glacier.
Soon after Keith and Ruth left by car to go to the helipad. We got some odd looking crampons and stuffed them in our heavy rucksack (Jo thought we should take enough emergency food for a week incase we got stranded).
Set off on the bus that took us to the terminal face of Fox Glacier.
Started walking up a steep path alongside the glacier. Apparently in years gone by the glacier would have been so big that it would have covered our heads by a good hundred metres or so!
We were quite surprised to see quite a number of people wheezing and spluttering as they made their way up the path. It was steep but not that steep!
Got to the side of the glacier where we grabbed a wooden walking stick each and put our crampons off. Set off onto the ice; it was literally rock hard.
Wandered round the glacier marvelling at the fascinating shapes of the ice. Saw loads of ice holes and wind blown carvings as we walked carefully by ( [1], [2], [3] ).
It was quite incredible looking down the valley to the terminal face and back up to the top.
Stayed on the ice for a bit then walked back down. Got the bus back to the centre where we met a beaming Keith and Ruth. Went over the road for a drink and then headed back to the campsite.
Sat outside in the glorious sunshine chatting and drinking vino. A brilliant day had by all. Spent the evening looking through all our photos. Keith and Ruths photo at the top of the glacier was excellent.
Ruth made an excellent tuna and jacket spud dinner.
posted by Jo and Sarb at
5/03/2007 01:08:00 am
1 Comments:
what an amazing experience!
By
Anonymous, At
4:39 pm
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