Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier

We stayed the night in Fox Glacier, and walked up to see Fox Glacier and then Franz Josef Glacier in the morning and early afternoon.

Both glaciers were very scenic. I've always seen pictures of snow-covered glaciers (e.g. the ones on Mt. Rainier) but both of these were really easy to see as the surrounding mountains were not snow-covered. Instead, both really did look like a river of ice, frozen as they flowed down.

Fox Glacier


Krisanne and Eric at Fox Glacier


Be careful!


Maori Glacier legend


We spent more time walking around Franz Josef glacier, looking at it from various angles. Eric and I walked up to see towering ice cliff above us, and could see the river of water flowing underneath.

Posing with Franz Josef


Franz Josef Glacier


Step away from the Ice Cave!


Ice boulders


As we left, the clouds parted and more of the glacier became visible. It was almost three distinctive colors: white/gray at the bottom (gray from sand and debris it picked up) to bright blue at the top.

Franz Josef Glacier

No comments: