Tuesday, August 19th 2003 – Day 182
I was up at 8.30am and got ready for the walk. It was leaving at 9.15am. They provide all the gear free including rain coat, socks, boots, hats etc. All you need is a camera and lunch.
I had decided to do the Full day walk . They say you will need to be a little fitter as this takes you further up the Glacier with a good chance of getting to the ice caves.
This is the walk for adventurous people who are reasonably fit and agile and wish to have a full day exploring the fascinating features of the glacier. Groups are kept small.
You approach the glacier using the same “secret” track that is used by the Half-day walkers. Outfitted with crampons, specially designed by Alpine Guides for Fox ice conditions, and traveling on ice steps freshly cut by your guide, you are able to journey on the glacier until confronted by the majestic pinnacles of the lower icefall where the glacier is moving up to two metres a day.
Duration:
6 – 7 hours
After changing gear and getting a prep talk we got a bus to the Glacier car park. There were about 9 on the tour with two guides. There were people from New Zealand, two from Australia, four from the UK, Isle of Man and one from Switzerland. The two guides were pretty cool and laid back. Its a professional outfit but theres a big fun aspect.
We walked towards the glacier for 30 minutes where we had some good views. We then out on our cramptons when we got to the ice. I have been on Glaciers in South America four times. I have been to the Moreno Glacier in Argentina, Cerro Torre in Argentina, the Martial Glacier in Ushuaia – Argentina and the Pastoruri Glaciar in Peru. So you see I have experience in these matters.
The day was a bit too easy. The weather was good but we followed the guides. They cut ice steps with axes when it was too steep. Not much of challenge. My ice trek in Argentina was 35 km over 13 hours. That was tough. We had a nice day and we got back at 4.00pm. The ice caves were cool though.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier – New Zealand – Glacier Walk (19-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier – New Zealand – Glacier Walk (19-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier – New Zealand – Glacier Walk (19-08-2003)
)
Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier – New Zealand – Glacier Walk (19-08-2003)
)
Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier – New Zealand – Glacier Walk (19-08-2003)
)
Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Fox Glacier – New Zealand – Glacier Walk (19-08-2003)
There was little to do after that and we watched Being John Malkovich (I love this movie) and Ronan Atkinson live on video. This is a cool hostel but there is little to do in the village.
I booked a bus to Queenstown for 10.50 tomorrow with Atomic Shuttles. Apart fromt he main Intercity bus service, they are the only service going past here. Our bus driver here had to deliver parcels for the post office as the place is so isolated. I also hired a bike from the hostel for tomorrow morning as I want to go to Lake Matheson, the famous reflection lake, is 6 km from of Fox township..