Climbing the Glacier

Kei Ora,

I can't believe I actually climbed a glacier! Yesterday afternoon I climbed the face of the Franz Josef Glacier. We were on the glacier for only 2 hours total, and managed to climb rather high. It was cool, but a little nerve-wrecking. It's like climbing a mountain or hill, but the guide had to cut steps into the ice. Climbing DOWN a glacier is harder than climbing up because as you face out, you realize just how high you've climbed on a block of ice. My body was exhausted after it was all over.

The tour company provides ice cleats (I don't know what the name of these things are. They attach to your boots and they bite into the ice as you walk), boots, socks and raincoat, as well as hats, gloves and overpants if you need them.

The guides are young, chipper, mountain goats that dash up the glacier and carve steps as needed. It's amazing how these kids run around the glacier as if it were no big deal. I guess for them it's not. The harder part is sheparding thirteen novice climbers up a slippery glacial slope. They have to manage our fears and keep us from hurting ourselves and other people. They did an excellent job.

Once again, the weather was spectacular: blue sky with a few clouds. The day before it had rained most of the day. I couldn't imagine climbing an ice mountain in the rain, but people did it. Since the glacier is located in a rainforest, the temperature was warm, even on the ice. Some of the guides wore shorts!

As for the glacier itself, it looks like a mountainous block of snow and ice. Most of the ice is white, but the denser parts are light translucent blue.

I'm glad I did the climb.

Today I took a bus and then the Trans Alpine Train to Christchurch. It took 10 hours in total to get here. Lots of beautiful mountain scenery. I'm in Christchurch for five more days, then I'm off to Australia. Sydney. My New Zealand adventure is coming to a close.

sigh.
cheers,
Stacey