08/02/2010

Arriving in Franz Josef the first thing we did was have a briefing on the glacier walk we were going to do tomorrow, telling us what to wear and to bring a packed lunch. Once that was over our bus driver took us to our hostel - Rainforest Retreat. It was nice but very big, our first chore was to do some washing - especially our clothes that we went in the lake in last night. Then on to the ridiculously over-priced supermarket for some food for the next few days. Once all the boring stuff was out the way we had a little time to chill before dinner time, Alex watched the second half of the super bowl while I chilled in the garden with the girls. After dinner - an inspiring spaghetti on toast, it was time to go to the bar for the ninja, cowboy, bear competition (a bit like giant rock, paper, scissors) to try and win 2 nights accommodation and jet boat ride in Queenstown. Unfortunately no one we knew won. Oh well, off to bed to get some rest for the glacier hike tomorrow.

We arrived at the Franz Josef depot to get all of our clothing, which included, over trousers, a jacket, hat, gloves, socks, hiking boots and crampons - as well as all the other layers we had underneath. We all got on a bus to the foot of the glacier and were split into groups of speed and abiliy, we were in group 3 of about 8 so not too bad. First of all we had to walk over the valley towards the beginning of the glacier about 2.6km, where the ice began, then just before stepping on ice we had to put our crampons on.

The first ice we had to stand on was a very steep staircase carved out by the guides. After that it was another pretty steep climb up more rocks before we hit the proper ice, once we were on that it felt amazing and was so worth the steep walk. We were given ice axes and everything! We follwed group 1 and 2 for a while, getting deeper and deeper into the glacier before setting off on our own route, through tiny crevasses and alley ways, an ice cave and a huge ice archway with a really steep wall to climb. The ice changes shape so often that the guides can see a cave one day and it not be there the following day. Alex turned into Bear Grylls and was climbing up ice walls he wasnt even suppose to and helping the guide carve the stairs. He was like a little boy in the best playground in the world. He loved it. Just as we were getting into it and seeing all the amazing cravasses and caves, it was time to turn back. It took us about 5 hours to get to our highest point and only just over an hour to get back down!

As soon as we arrived back in town we all decided to go to the hot pools to warm ourselves up. These were so cool, one at 40 degrees celcius, one at 38 an one at 36. After being in the 40 degee pool the 36 was bloody freezing. Having spent a good while relaxing and reaching our maximum wrinklyness we decided to have a shower, dinner and head to the bar and attempt to win a canyon swing. The competition tonight.....rock, paper, scissors (seems like the only game the bar knows). Alex done so well, he made it to the final, it was between him and one other girl on our bus. Best out of three. But unfortunatley he couldnt beat her :( She must have cheated.

We had a few drinks and played a few games of pool before going to bed to get up early for our bus to Wanaka. Franz Josef was so beautiful. From our hostel you could see the glacier valley and the dramatic mountains all around. Its definitely a place we will never forget.