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Published: December 14th 2006
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Lake
On the drive down to Fox. It's a tough life, diving through this kind of scenery... The drive down to Fox was amazing. Just fabulously gorgeous. Mountain views (Mt. Cook and Mt. Tasman I think) all the way along. I kept stopping to take pics. The roads were fine. There was a 100k limit, 50k through the towns. They were a bit bendy, but not much different from a country-ish A road in the UK. Every now and then though, there were some major bendy bits! You get signs saying that there are some serious wiggles for the next 16k! Some bends have sings saying to go round them at 25kmh! Very tight. But if you go slow it's no problem at all.
So this morning I walked up Fox Glacier. WOW. Stunning. Amazing. A must do experience. I wasn't sure what to expeect, didn't know if it was some ice berg thing on a river or something... Where snow falls loads and loads, it compacts and makes ice in this big bowl of a valley. It basically moves down this tight little valley (Fox is one of the fastest moving in the world, the guide said one day he put his bottle down for lunch and by the end of lunch he could see it
Fox Glacier
The end of Fox Glacier. It's just stunning. had moved) and melts at the bottom. So it's basically a big block of ice where there used to be a river. The half day trek is about four hours start to finish. They say you have to be of average fitness. I think that's right. However in the day and age of sitting around watching the telly, I'd say you probably have to be of quite a good fitness level. If you've never done any kind of hill walking before I think the steps, the rocks and stuff you would find a challenge. Also it works the whole of the leg muscles, not just the individual ones at the gym, so it's different.
They get you kitted out with proper hob nail boots, very heavy. I'd recommend two thick pairs of socks as, at the end of the clib, my feet were a little bit worn, but not blisterd. They give you rain coats and over trousers if it's wet. They had up to XXL+, though I'm glad I only needed a large 😊 You take this bus ten minutes to the start of the glacier. On a good day you can see what you are going to
Me on Fox Glacier
Hard work, but the views were worth it. climb, it's gorgeous ice! Looks dirty, where the rocks have been mixed up into it. You walk along stone ground and over a couple of rivers first. We get to one and the guide is just casually walking along and I'm thinking, "Oh, right, so we just... ok... stepping stones across the big gushing river... ok, that's fine..." After a little while you move up into the rainforest area. It's gorgeous, so green and wet. Loads and loads of lovely plant life. At this point the glacier is hidden from view, but every now and then you get to see the big peaks that have come up from the tectonic plates rubbing together. Some of the track is steps, they've developed it so it's easier to climb... I would hate to see what it was like with no steps. Don't be fooled, these are not like stairs at home, these are rough, stoney, big steps. This makes cissbury ring seem like a flat easy saunter! At one point ther are chains along the side of a cliff face where there is a sheer fall the other side. The guide, a cool guy from Detroit, said "I start sounding like my
Fox Glacier view
See what I mean about the views! mom here, but please hold on to the chains.... if you let go I have to buy the guys a beer.... if you fall I have to buy a crate!". That was a bit scary. Actually, a lot of the climb was quite scary, but oh so worth it. There are a few stops along the way to have a rest, a drink, a snack (you'll need them), and to remove layers of clothing as you get warmer. At the bottom you stop to put on crampons for gripping the ice. Then it's on to the ice. It's very dark at first, and muddy. But after, I guess, 20 minutes or so, you are more onto the white/blue ice. It's stunning. It's, obviously, colder, but I just had on trousers, a vest top and a t-shirt. A lot of people also had a jacket on. It's important to put on sun cream. I had on my face, but I forgot to put it on my arms, and by that night it was obvious I had some minor sun burn! The ice walking was quite scary as it was slippery (when wet, haha!), even with the crampons. The guide had a pick ace with him aadn would cut out new steps, or make the steps that where there safer. It was hard work on the ice, but lovely views of the mountains. A real experience. And then it was time to go back. It felt quicker going back, but going down hill isn't easier that going up. I was knackered when I'd finished. I'm glad I wasn't on the full day one, which is about 7-8 hours. They also do ice climbing up there, which looked great when we passed people. Next time I come back I'll do some of that 😊
Next morning, oh my legs. Also my neck, where I was looking down a lot at where I was walking and carrying a backpack. Even with a hot shower and some walking that night and stretching them. Even a few days later I can still feel it. Very worthwhile though 😊
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Mike
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Views wow!
Love the picture where you can see right down the valley (mountain pass or whatever it is) looks great. Bon jovi T-shirt was a nice touch added some class ;)