Advertisement
Published: February 15th 2009
Edit Blog Post
Hello!
Iz here- Had a great outdoorsy day today. This morning we made our way down the road to walk around Lake Matheson as planned. The track is supposed to take an hour and a half but really isnt that long. The lake is famous for giving you reflections of Mount Cook, Fox Glacier and the accompanying skyline, but unfortunately we were there when the wind had already started to make its way over, so the lake wasn't still enough to see a complete picture on the water. Still, a fantastic view and lots of photo opportunity as always! There are some nice jettys and walkways out over the water.
After the lake we had some time to kill before our helihike so we had a quick drive up to a viewpoint, where you can see across some of the forest, to the bottom of the glacier. Yet more photos!
We reported to the guiding company at 12 and they took us down to the helicopter launching site. They equip you with the correct boots, woolly socks and rain jackets and take you through all the safety procedures about the flight and being on the ice. It was a nice small
group as there was only us three and two American women.
Not long after that we were off! Its a fairly short flight up to the landing sight but spectacular none the less! You come across some farm land and along some of the length of the river thats come down through the glacier (the water is grey in colour due to all the stone and muck thats scraped along with the ice). We then went right up into the valley, sticking alongside the trees that line the side. We got fantastic views of the glacier up in front of us. It was a really smooth flight too- amazing how light the helicopter feels- it seems to take little effort to lift it off the ground, so different to being in a plane.
We circled around above the glacier when we reached it and the pilot took us right round to see where a huge waterfall plunges down into a huge break in the ice- dramatic view when the helicopter was almost completely on its side- you cant even see the bottom of it, so much water and so much mist.
We landed then right in the middle of the
glacier itself- they have a tiny landing pad flattened out. The helicopter picked up the last group and we were left with our guide. We got there around 12:45 and weren't getting picked up until 3:30 so had loads of time to explore. Our guide led the way, sometimes using the natural formations and sometimes carving steps into the ice for us.
They give you crampons on your arrival onto the glacier- we fitted them round our boots and had a pole each. Once you get used to walking on the ice its not too bad at all and not half as slippery as you might think!
We walked all over- looking at crevasses, tunnels, streams, etc. Its amazing how many different shades can be found in the ice, depending on how compressed it is or what state its in- Some was so crystal blue, some grey, some whiter than white!
The glacier has its own micro climate in the valley so the weather is very changeable. It started to rain a little as we arrived but luckily this didnt last too long and the sun emerged later on. When some of the cloud lifted you could just make out
a hut at the top of the valley on the side of the cliff- its sooo far up but apparently sleeps a whole 12 people and is used for trips mountaineering etc.
When we started to head back it actually took our guide a little while to locate the landing pad again! Its strange how different the landscape starts to look when the light changes. Made it in the end though and the helicopter was on time to pick us up. The pilot did some more circling on the way down and lingered over the bottom so we got some more great photo oppourtunities.
After all that the flight was over far too quick and we were back down. They gave us each a cheesy certificate for having been up and we all agreed it was money very well spent! Such an ace activity and not like anything else weve ever done.
And so, tomorrow we are making another lengthy drive (hopefully not quite as long as the last though) to get us down to Queenstown.
Absolutely loved Fox Glacier but would like to say goodbye to the rain! We shall see..........................
Love from Izzy, Kt and Jinks xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Advertisement
Tot: 0.125s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 6; qc: 44; dbt: 0.086s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb