Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers

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Pretty Huh?

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Up the West Coast we headed, stopping at various places along the way for the obligatory cup of tea.  Usually on a lake by yourself or on top of a mountain, which becomes the norm after a while.  We stopped at some blue pools to see trout heading upstream to spawn and the water is as clear as crystal.  Oh, and Lynds got to have another go on a swing bridge and nearly had a fit when someone tried to get on the other end at the same time as she was on it (The bridge said no more than 5 people but Lynds didn´t trust that).  At about four we pulled into the little town of Fox which is in the shadow of the mountains behind it and the glacier that runs between them. 

It had already been decided that hiking up the glacier was gonna be a no no due to changeable weather and our general lack of fitness.  So we headed to an office with a helicopter picture on it and had a chat.  It was agreed that even though they weren´t supposed to take up only two people at a time, they would make an exception for us as they had to put the chopper away for the night anyway. 

Im stood like that cos the snows deep and I know I look like an amorous pooch!!

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A brief look at the weather (pilot looked out of the window) and we were airborne.  We flew straight up the glacier and were treated to a sight like no other.  When we reached the top of the mountain the pilot sat us down in the snow.  It was minus 2 up here and we were playing in eighteen inches of snow.  It would take five years for this snow to be squashed down to the bottom of the glacier.  It really was an awesome moment, just Lynds me and a pilot on the top of a glacier.  As the sun started to set we were treated to a spectrum of colours as we flew back down the glacier.  When we landed we were both a bit giddy so I emailed my sis and Lynds got her folks out of bed to tell them what we´d done.

After a good nights sleep we went for brekkie and a walk around a lake that was supposed to give an amazing view and didn´t disappoint.  And then it was up the road to the Franz Josef Glacier to have a look at the terminus (thats the bottom bit where it ends).  Due to the torrential rain it was advised not to go anywhere near as flash floods mixed with huge icefalls were common at this time of year.  But we got close enough to get the gist and went away happy with our glacial encounters.