This morning we were all praying for good weather otherwise it could ruin our eight hour hike up Franz Josef. Upon looking out the window at 7am we saw rain, but not as heavy as the night before so we were still hopeful it would clear up and the sun would appear. We were lucky when after showering and breakfast the sun came out and it was time to get ready for our hike at 9am. We all put on a few layers and headed down to the Glacier Centre which was only a three minute walk away. We were a bit early so we had to wait to be called to suit up in our hats, gloves, socks, jackets, hiking boots and crampons (spikes) for the bottom of our boots to stop us from slipping all over the ice. The hike guides were wearing ridiculously skimpy shorts that we had to laugh at. We boarded the bus and could see the glacier in the distance. It was our Mount Everest! We had a short ten minute bus ride to the closest point to the glacier so the guides explained us the history of the glacier.
It was named Franz Josef by the geologist Julius Von Haast after the Austro-Hungarian emperor and is one of the highest glaciers in the Southern Hemisphere!
When we arrived at the bus stop we were told not to leave anything up on the glacier so out the window went our plans to plant an Ireland flag at the top! After this we had to walk down the companies own private track through the rainforest and at the end we had our first view of the Franz Josef Glacier. It was an amazing sight and one we had looked forward to greatly since arriving in New Zealand. It did not disappoint! The glacier looked only a small walk away but our guide Tony pointed out that it was in fact 2 kilometres away and would take forty-five minutes to an hour to walk there (it was an optical illusion) because of all the stones in our way.
We were shown at the foot of the glacier how to safely tie our crampons and we were split into three different groups. The first group would be the fast group and the other two would be more relaxed. The guides would also cut large steps with their axes for the slower groups. We being the thrill seekers we’ve made ourselves out to be decided to be in the first group. We were joined by three blonde Danish backpackers, unfortunately only one of them was female. We looked up the glacier to see some crazy fecker legging it down the steps with cuts all over his legs. This was Greg, an Englishman and our guide who had been up the glacier all morning trying to cut steps and make the hike safe for the tour. The heavy rain last night had ruined all his work from the days before and everything had to be done over. He was very enthusiastic and we knew we had an exciting day ahead of us.
I lead the way behind Greg as we raced up the first steps of glacier and we took to it like ducks to water (ice). As we got higher and higher the other groups appeared as little dots and we were glad we were in the first group. We would later hear the other groups were complaining about how slow they were going, Greg was great at cutting the steps. He was like a madman with that axe! He also pointed out all the areas of interest in the glacier like the Iris, an eye shaped gap in the ice.
There was time for a short break on the ice so we had some lunch while Greg went out in front and sculpted our path along the glacier. Five minutes later we were on our way again up the glacier. We weaved our way through nooks and crannies in the blue ice as we approached the top. This proved to be hard for me as I could barely fit through some of the gaps in the ice and my feet got stuck on more than one occasion!
When we reached the summit we crossed paths with another group who was on a different track to us. Greg had a little activity for us, squeezing through a gap in the ice! The other guide Markus warned him about what had happened to Tim, another tour guide who had gotten stuck in between the glaciers trying to make the same course yesterday. He had to be pulled out with a rope. There seemed to be some healthy competition between the two but it was Greg who came out on top this time and he proceeded to rub it in Markus face. We all managed to conquer the game but we worried for the other group as they contained a few people on the heavy side.
We admired the spectacular views from the top and realised how lucky we were to be doing all this. There was also many opportunity for group photos with our Danish friends. Tom whipped out the Irish flag for the second time on this trip but unfortunately the Danish’s photography skills weren’t as good as the guy in Iguassu!
Now it was time for our descent! Along the way down we scoffed down all our remaining food and drinks. There was a mix up as too whether the bag was opened or closed and as a result a bottle of red Powerade went sliding down the glacier and into a crevasse never to be seen again. At least Greg didn’t notice it or he would have used the axe on us! If anything goes wrong in years to come at the Franz Josef Glacier we will know it was probably our fault!
It was another two hours hike to the bottom and a further hour walk to get the bus back but all in all the eight hours of hiking has been definitely worth it and is a must do for everyone who visits New Zealand! Walking without our crampons at first was a very strange sensation but we got used to it.
After watching Bill Murray in Groundhog Day we hit the hay hoping that we wouldn’t have to relive this day over and over again no matter how amazing it was. Eight hour hike after eight hour hike would take its toll eventually!
Ice Ice Baby,
Mike
It was named Franz Josef by the geologist Julius Von Haast after the Austro-Hungarian emperor and is one of the highest glaciers in the Southern Hemisphere!
When we arrived at the bus stop we were told not to leave anything up on the glacier so out the window went our plans to plant an Ireland flag at the top! After this we had to walk down the companies own private track through the rainforest and at the end we had our first view of the Franz Josef Glacier. It was an amazing sight and one we had looked forward to greatly since arriving in New Zealand. It did not disappoint! The glacier looked only a small walk away but our guide Tony pointed out that it was in fact 2 kilometres away and would take forty-five minutes to an hour to walk there (it was an optical illusion) because of all the stones in our way.
We were shown at the foot of the glacier how to safely tie our crampons and we were split into three different groups. The first group would be the fast group and the other two would be more relaxed. The guides would also cut large steps with their axes for the slower groups. We being the thrill seekers we’ve made ourselves out to be decided to be in the first group. We were joined by three blonde Danish backpackers, unfortunately only one of them was female. We looked up the glacier to see some crazy fecker legging it down the steps with cuts all over his legs. This was Greg, an Englishman and our guide who had been up the glacier all morning trying to cut steps and make the hike safe for the tour. The heavy rain last night had ruined all his work from the days before and everything had to be done over. He was very enthusiastic and we knew we had an exciting day ahead of us.
I lead the way behind Greg as we raced up the first steps of glacier and we took to it like ducks to water (ice). As we got higher and higher the other groups appeared as little dots and we were glad we were in the first group. We would later hear the other groups were complaining about how slow they were going, Greg was great at cutting the steps. He was like a madman with that axe! He also pointed out all the areas of interest in the glacier like the Iris, an eye shaped gap in the ice.
There was time for a short break on the ice so we had some lunch while Greg went out in front and sculpted our path along the glacier. Five minutes later we were on our way again up the glacier. We weaved our way through nooks and crannies in the blue ice as we approached the top. This proved to be hard for me as I could barely fit through some of the gaps in the ice and my feet got stuck on more than one occasion!
When we reached the summit we crossed paths with another group who was on a different track to us. Greg had a little activity for us, squeezing through a gap in the ice! The other guide Markus warned him about what had happened to Tim, another tour guide who had gotten stuck in between the glaciers trying to make the same course yesterday. He had to be pulled out with a rope. There seemed to be some healthy competition between the two but it was Greg who came out on top this time and he proceeded to rub it in Markus face. We all managed to conquer the game but we worried for the other group as they contained a few people on the heavy side.
We admired the spectacular views from the top and realised how lucky we were to be doing all this. There was also many opportunity for group photos with our Danish friends. Tom whipped out the Irish flag for the second time on this trip but unfortunately the Danish’s photography skills weren’t as good as the guy in Iguassu!
Now it was time for our descent! Along the way down we scoffed down all our remaining food and drinks. There was a mix up as too whether the bag was opened or closed and as a result a bottle of red Powerade went sliding down the glacier and into a crevasse never to be seen again. At least Greg didn’t notice it or he would have used the axe on us! If anything goes wrong in years to come at the Franz Josef Glacier we will know it was probably our fault!
It was another two hours hike to the bottom and a further hour walk to get the bus back but all in all the eight hours of hiking has been definitely worth it and is a must do for everyone who visits New Zealand! Walking without our crampons at first was a very strange sensation but we got used to it.
After watching Bill Murray in Groundhog Day we hit the hay hoping that we wouldn’t have to relive this day over and over again no matter how amazing it was. Eight hour hike after eight hour hike would take its toll eventually!
Ice Ice Baby,
Mike
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