Today we took a guided day hike up on to Fox Glacier. This glacier is one of three in the world that runs down to a rain forest. On the way to the glacier you drive through a thick forest of ferns and beech trees. The vegetation quickly changes to smaller plants and shrubs and then the glacier is revealed. Even though it was a cloudy day the glacier was still pretty impressive.
We geared up in rain coats, overpants, hiking boots and crampons, all supplied by the tour company. Yes, we were wondering what the heck we were doing. We came to the southern hemisphere to get away from the ice and snow and here we are tramping around on a glacier!
We followed our guide, Scott up the ice staircase which he carved out with his ice pick.
We hiked up the glacier and were led to an ice tunnel. This one is a compression tunnel. The ice is being pushed up as the glacier is moving along the side of the mountain.
Mal climbed down into an ice cave.
At the bottom the melt water flows out under the glacier. That cave has some major cracks and looks as if it will soon collapse. The water under the glacier and of course gravity are moving the glacier down the valley.
A great day on the glacier. Tomorrow we move on to explore 'pancake rocks' and sites further north.
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I thought it was Summer down under??????
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