Dodging the glacier in Franz Josef

They arrived in Franz Josef after an afternoon driving along some of the most spectacular roads in the country.

The small alpine town had a nice feel with some good looking bars, and after sleeping off the excitement of the morning caving they headed out for some food to prepare themselves for the hike and glacier climb that they'd booked for the following day.

Another early start and they headed into town - With Liz picking up a tasty picnic for them on the way. Following registration and signing the second liability waiver in two they were kitted out with climbing boots and talons for the ice. The boots were so heavy that Liz was convinced there was something wrong with hers - questionning the logic of walking boots that practically kept you rooted to the spot!

Worried about the glare on the ice they popped to buy some sunglasses - Not the easyist thing to do under pressure. Then they hopped on the coach to the glacier.

It was a distance of about 3km from the coach stop to the foot of the glacier. This was an area that had previously been under the ice before the glacier had retreated up