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So, what have we been up to since our last little electronic meeting then? Well, everyday has been packed to the max at the mo, so much so that I actually forgot we even went to Franz Josef so hopefully as I write this it will all come back to me.
It was a bit of a trek to Franz Josef from Queenstown but a beautiful drive, past Lake Wanaka and through Mount Aspiring National Park. As the night drew in and we had still not arrived we were gradually confronted by the sight of about 50 possums that kept jumping out into the road - I have to say a big welldone on the driving there to the Grantster as there were quite a few moments we swerved and could have skidded off the mountain roads, but I didn't mind this as long as we didn't hurt any wildlife - priorities hey?
Franz Josef itself is a tiny little place and the main reason to go there is to see Franz Josef Glacier. We took a half day guided walk/climb the next day with a group of about 10 and wrapped up like mummies we set off in our lovely, not at all painful, hired hiking boots. Approaching the glacier was kinda strange as there is a huge valley in front of it where streams and rivers have cut through the land. The glacier is right in front of you at the end of the valley and it seems like it is about 5 minutes walk away. However we were informed that it was a bit of an optical illusion and it would actually take about an hour to even reach it - wierd. The guide told us loads of really interesting facts about glaciers which really blow your mind as you realise how amazing it really is to be standing right in front of one. Franz Josef is a fast moving glacier because it is warm (compared to others) so this means that the snow that settles at the accumulation zone (right at the top) only takes 80 years to reach the bottom. Have no idea how there work this kinda thing out and it is actually hurting my brain a bit to think about all this sciency geography stuff so I'll maybe leave the lesson there.
Anyway, as we got closer to the glacier we were told we had to strap on mountaineering spikes onto our boots in order to walk on the ice. I was singled out as the special one from this moment on as I shouted to the guide 'I've got two of the same foot so they don't fit on my boots properly' - darn, no hiking for me I thought. I was quickly corrected in front of everyone a minute later however when the dude said, 'yep you'll probably wanna turn it up the right way and then try and fit it on' - DOH. Obviously spotting that I was likely to be a liability he then told me to go up front with him so everyone had to make way for me to pass and go in front - not at all embaressing. The first few steps on the glacier were just surreal. You are literally walking on a solid block of ice. It is all completely natural and although it is stable to an extent it is obviously possible that anything could happen i.e the ice could break, you could slip off or you could fall through some kind of massive hole and get stuck (am thinking these thoughts may have been running through the guide's head every time he looked at me). The way you climb up the glacier is on steps which the guide made as we went along with a pick axe. There are bits of rope screwed into the ice at some really steep parts to help pull yourself up but other than this it is pretty much just a head down and pump those thighs to get up. After about 2 minutes I was knackered and wanting to rip the 20 layers off my body as I was sweating. Grant on the other hand was taking it all in his stride and seemed pretty relaxed. My smile returned when we got to a flatter part and had to go down a hole whilst holding a piece of rope - oooh, fun! I was first up and got absolutely soaked as I wriggled through this teeny hole. It was quite long and felt a bit claustrophobic when you were right inside, literally like being stuck in an ice cube - wierd. As I watched everyone else slide through a few people didn't hold the rope properly and literally came shooting out the other end like a flume, landing with a massive bump on the ice below - ouch.
As we got quite high up it was awesome to look out onto the scenery below and imagine how at some point in a few hundred years the ice we were standing on would be at the bottom. Each hole you looked down there was water rushing through like mini rivers below us and it really felt like some kind of Narnia, Lord of the Rings magical ice world! Altogether we climbed up steps, slid down holes and licked the ice (may have just been me... had to just as a Dumb and Dumber type tribute) and then clambered back down to dry land for about 2 hours I think which was a good amount of time. Any more than that and I think our feet would have frozen and my thighs definately would have refused to go on. Totally brilliant experience and unlike anything we have ever done before - ice climbing rules!
Linz x
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