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A blog for just today! Had a reasonable sleep as i did not have to get up until after 8. Had a BOILING hot shower, before going downstairs for som nutri-grain, mmm. Made some lunch and packed stuff for the day, before heading to the glacier hike centre with the others. Checked in and read disclaimers before we were all kitted up. We were given water proof trousers, jacket, gloves and hat, boots and crampons (spikes for boots). Put it all on and got on to the bus to head to the glacier.
We parked up in the car park, and had about an hours walk to the terminal face of the glacier. I say an hour, thats taking in the time it took to get spikes on once there. The walk to it was thw hardest bit of the day except for the walk back at the end, as it was very rocky and we had to use various ladders and ropes to get over a big bit of rock, as the river cut the path off. Once at the terminal face we were split into groups, and I opted for group 1, the fit confident group. At this
stage i stripped to my shorts and hoody as it was actually a good temperature, and i stayed like this all day.
Hiking the glacier was weird. At times it was fairly smooth going, at others we had nicely carved out steps, ranging from short to big gaps between, and at times we had to make our own steps, or the guide did with his big axe! The going was fairly easy and open until our lunch break which we took after about 3hours walking. We stopped by a little pool with some rocks, so we could sit down without getting wet, good plan! Stopped for about 20mins whilst tyhe guide prepared the next bit. This turned out to be a bit of a cave/tunnel. Was quite easy to get through, though a few big step ups, but it was soo cool, the smoothness of the ice and the blue colour at times was incredible. Dom did get a bit wet at this point as he had nothing water proof on, dried quickly in sun though. Oh yeah, gorgeous weather, obviously got one of the 100days it doesnt rain here in Franz Josef!!
Lots more steady climbing until
later in the afternoon where we hit lots of crevaces. Some of these werent too bad, though some of them were SOO narrow, seriously, not designed for fat people! Again i got wet rubbing up against all the ice as no water proof stuff on, but again dried! We finally got to our highest point of the day, before we headed back down again. Oh yeah, we also stopped at a tunnel. About 4m long, 2 high, and almost perfectly round, and again the most amazing blue colour, got a cool photo or two there. Might have broken record for most photos in a day today!
We had one final stop on the way back down. My cold dip. We got to this small, but very deep pool and the guide was like, so, who wants a swim. Of course I thought this might come up so had brought my towel and also my sports skin top to warm me up quickly afterwards. I took everything off other than boxers and my ice boots and socks (had to keep them on apparently!) and just jumped in. Well....well....what can i say! It took my breath away, and i think my
heart stopped! In the shock, i quickly "swum" to the edge where the guide heaved me out, thoguh not without me cutting me knee open nicely. Thankfully he had a first aid kit. I was the only person in the group to go in, and before i knew it 30 other people were all there watching me dry myself, some praising me, some thinking im crazy! A couple of americans also went in, and a couple of the guides. No picture myself, though will try get someone elses pics of me jumping in. Got all my layers on, and from there had to walk in wet underwear and shoes for 2hours back to bus.
Headed back, gave kit back and then went straight to the spa at the hostel. Spent an hour and a half in there (oh i cleaned knee first dont worry), before showering and coming on here! Hope todays blog a bit better than my last rushed one! Back again soon!
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kerry
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Mad!!!
Is there anything you wont try ?!! ... I see potential danger in everything... its obviously an age thing!! ( Or perhaps im just a scaredy cat !) sounds like you are having the best time ...... enjoy ! lol kerry x