Will Gauvin ([info]gruffybear) wrote,
@ 2008-12-30 20:54:00
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Current location:Christchurch
Current mood: good

Franz Josef Glacier Experience
OMG!!! Nothing could have ever prepared me for what I saw. Seriously, this was the most amazing experience of my trip to New Zealand.

I got to Franz Joseph at about 1pm on Dec 29. I had 2 hours to waste before my trip up to the glacier. So I went to the camping site in attempt to put up the tent, one that I had borrowed from the sexy Toby and Carlos, but since I didn't know the tent and it was windy the final result was more like the Leaning Tent of Franz Josef.

At 3pm everyone met at the HQ of the guide company, we all got our boots, rain coats and instructions. We were finally on road at about 3:45pm. After a 5min ride, we hiked about 3kms to glacier face, or the terminal marine as it is called. We treked about 1km or so to our high point, and then enjoyed the view for about 20 mins before doing the return trip. We got back to town about 8pm. (BTW the sun went down at 10pm which is still mind boggling for me).

The good news is that my ankle survived with flying colours.











For all the pics, have a look at my MobileMe gallery - http://gallery.me.com/willgauvin#100008


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[info]inbhirnis
2008-12-30 12:02 pm UTC (link)
Wow! I've always wanted to get up close and personal with a glacier. I've a mind to do an Alaska cruise one of these days and see if there are any side trips that would allow me to do that.

You're wearing SHORTS and no gloves! Wasn't it cold?

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[info]gruffybear
2008-12-30 07:51 pm UTC (link)
Not at this glacier. This is the warmest one in the world, and the fastest too: at the terminal face of it the ice is moving 1 metre a day (that's fast for a glacier) at the top of the glacier it's moving 5 metres a day which is VERY fast.

If you noticed the pics on my MobileMe gallery you will have seen rain forrest. The Franz Josef Glacier is 1 of only 3 in the world that has rain forrest near it.

All i can say that the wind coming down the glacier was a little cool when we stopped to take pics but it wasn't freezing by any means.

As for getting up close and personal with a glacier, do it it's so amazing!

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[info]loreleif
2008-12-31 03:02 am UTC (link)
There are! I went on an Alaskan cruise a few years ago, and we did a glacier walk. Highly recommend it!

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[info]gruffybear
2008-12-31 06:51 am UTC (link)
Should I get back over the USA, I want to go do Alaska and I also want to go tour Canada. So now that I've been on a glacier walk I would like to do more.

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[info]loreleif
2008-12-31 03:01 am UTC (link)
Oh, wow! These are gorgeous!

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[info]gruffybear
2008-12-31 06:51 am UTC (link)
Thanks. It was an amazing experience :D

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[info]bear_left
2008-12-31 03:12 am UTC (link)
What amazing pictures! Seems like a fantastic experience - hope I can make it there at some point.

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[info]gruffybear
2008-12-31 06:53 am UTC (link)
Thanks mate, it definitely was an amazing experience. It made what was already a great trip in to a fantastic trip. I'll be sad to say good bye to NZ in a few days. At least I can work here without a visa (it's a deal between Australia and New Zealand that people with permanent residence or citizenship of one country can work in the other country).

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[info]bear_left
2008-12-31 04:45 pm UTC (link)
Way cool! And Happy New Year to someone already in 2009!

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[info]cuboz
2009-01-04 07:33 am UTC (link)
It's amazing to stand near the face of the glacier, and see huge chunks fall off every now and again, isn't it?

Although it makes walking on it a LITTLE creepy!! :-)

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