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Lake Mahinapua to Franz Josef
We started with a short drive to Pukekura (Poo-e-ku-ra) to explore the Bushman's Centre. The centre offers an insight into how people make a living on the coast with sphagnum moss growing, old timber-milling techniques, possum trapping and helicopter Deer recovery, quite interesting.
We headed through to Franz Josef Glacier Village, nestled in the Westland National Park, passing numerous kettle lakes along the way. These lakes were created as glaciers retreated and left huge chunks of cie behind that melted and formed into deep lakes that provide excellent reflections and stunning pictures.
Upon arrival we stopped at the Franz Josef Glacier Guide's office to sort out tomorrow's glacial activities - I chose to full day ice climb!
The following morning myself, Susie, Adam and Martin (the only 4 from the bus who chose to do the ice climb) packed our day bags and walked to the FJ Guide's office just around the corner from our hostel. We had to be there for 7.30am so that we could get kitted out and ready to start our day of fun on the ice.
Once we had all our gear on (seriously uncomfortable boots; a cross between a ski boot and a hiking boot). We jumped into the bus and took a short ride to the bottome of the glacier walk. We walked over 3km's along the river before we finally reached the bottom of the glacier - the 3km's were deceptively long, as we all initially thought it was only about 1000 metres away from us. By this stage my bloody boots were starting to rub, chaffe, annoy and cause me quite a bit of pain. But, I pushed on, as it was either that or turn back and forget about the climb - which wasn't going to happen. So after over an hour of walking on rocks and pebbles, we put on our harnesses, waterprooof trousers, crampons and safety helmets ready to ascend the ice!
After about another 1.5-2 hours hiking up the ice, we reached our first stop and it was time to start climbing! Personally, getting up wasn't as bad as abseiling down. I mean, i like abseiling but not when you have to have both arms behind your back (as you are holding a pick-axe in each hand, so as not to harm yourself if you slipped or fell), but you also have to practically lie horizontal to the ground before you start to walk down teh wall of ice.
Put it this way, my screams were heard all across the glacier I later found out! However, I did provide my fellow ice climbers and our guide with entertainment. All in all, it was bloody hard worl but definately worth it and I'd do it again no hesitation. Plus, when your crampons slip you really do get to work out those bingo wings, lol!!
After about 8 climbs each, we decended back down the glacier (getting a little lost en-route!) and back towards the van. I have never been so happy to take off a pair of boots in my life! My feet were absolutely killing plas a little swollen around the ankles.
So, if you ever go to the Franz Josef or Fox Glacier, do the ice climbing and not the hikes - it is much more rewarding and only about $20 NZD more expensive. Bargain!
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