Hey!
We finally got to the local glaciers – Franz Josef glacier and Fox glacier!
The first day we only checked out the terrain and did some light hikes around the glaciers.
The second day, we did the most difficult hike so far, and that was up to the Mt Fox. In the guidebooks, it was said, that this hike is suitable only for experienced, well-equipped and fit hikers. Well, we were so bold and felt like we can do this, so we got going. The guide book also said, that even though the hike is only 7,4 km long, it requires 8 hours of time. The way up was really cruel, we couldn’t even speak, or take pictures and I wouldn’t consider it a hike, but climbing the lianas, pulling up the rocks and jumping across the roots. The only thing that was pushing us forward, was the vision of a wonderful view from up there. But when we got there, we couldn’t see a thing due to a dense fog (!). At least it was a good workout.
The way down was even worse. When we finally got down and were asking in the information centre about some other tracks, the employees were uncomprehendingly looking at our torn pants and dirty & grazed legs. The bolder ones were asking us where the heck we were.
The third day was probably the best day so far, because we were planning on doing the heli-hike. Since the glacier is melting really fast, the helicopter had to take us right onto the glacier. The flight was absolutely great, because I got to sit right next to the pilot. Up there, we put the crampons on and with the ice axes we went for the three-hour hike. We walked through several glacier caves, gaps and cols, but we even walked on the tops of the ice.
In the afternoon, we headed off to Queenstown, but later about that!:)
E.
