Fox Glacier

Why did I think glaciers were in cold snowy or icy places? Ignorance, I guess. Our journey took us through lush rainforests and we arrived in warm cloud and warm drizzle, though it cleared as the afternoon went on. The camp site was excellent, about 1km from the very small town, and we booked a heli-hike for the next morning as soon as we arrived, hoping the weather would clear. This was the view from the campsite.

We went on one of the many easy walks in the area and were amazed by the greenery and the warmth of the place. There were endless ferns and mosses everywhere. All within a couple of kilometers of the end of the glacier.

There was also a very long (and scary for me) swing bridge across the Fox River!

 The weather the following morning was beautiful and just right for a heli-hike. This involved a helicopter flight (on Graham's bucket list) and some walking, with crampons, on the glacier. There's too much to say about glaciers here. As for the trip, the helicopters landed on the ice. We were on the last of four, so those already on the ground had to 'crouch' to avoid being blown away!

We were all given crampons to attach to the boots we had been given earlier and, after a bit of practice, helped us move easily and not fall over. The glaciers move all the time, but you don't really notice, you just see the results. The dirty looking bits aren't pollution, they are rocks and soil are being moved by the ice.

Because the glacier moves so much the guides never know what formations they will find to show us. We were just amazed by the size and the power of this natural force and were so lucky with the weather. The day before a group had to leave early as the cloud was coming in - actually, not real cloud but condensation from the rain forests - and the day after there were no flights. Apparently, 75% of flights get cancelled. This really was a 'once in a lifetime' experience.