Sun Shining on the Valley
Going Down Into the Ice Cave
View From on the Glacier Looking Towards the Peak
Amazing Patterns Created by the Ice and Rock Sediment
Strapping on the Crampons
Drinkable Glacier Water
View from the Valley
(the glacier used to be where I am taking the photo in the 60's)
Today I did the half day Fox Glacier hike. It was so amazing. Its hard to imagine that there is absolutely no snow that falls on the whole glacier except for at the peak. The snow falls and gets packed down into the valley forming ice, and as the snow keeps packing down, it pushes the ice slowly down the valley. The Glacier is a total of 13km long and is one of the only glaciers in the world that is surrounded by lush rain forest. Its also one of the fastest moving glaciers, growing/shrinking one meter everyday depending on rainfall.
Because the bottom of the glacier is so unstable, we walked through the rain forest for 45 mins before strapping on our crampons and hiking across the ice. Half way through the forest we stopped where water was running off the rocks so we could fill up our water bottles. It was the freshest drink I've ever had! When we got to the center of the glacier, we got to crawl into an ice cave to snap some pictures. Because of the light refraction in the ice, it gives off this beautiful blue colour. Truly amazing!
We started out hike back down just as the sun was starting to set. It was beautiful seeing the rays of sunshine on the valley below. A great end to the day :)
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