More Glacier Photos

Proof that I was really there.

We did see some glacier falling from the right side of the rock. The rock is about 10 stories high.

Our chariot arrives.

My new boyfriend AJ is on the right - thank you AJ!

We did NOT walk on this part, just flew over it.

Look at the side of the valley and find the line of different color. That was the level of the glacier in 2009. 

Glacier Photos

View from Punga Grove Hotel

Keep an eye on that large rock area in the center. This is the view from the helicopter.

Same rock different angle and closer.

Above the rock, it is to the right.

The Day of the Glacier

The morning started with some confusion. I thought I was to wait for a shuttle from my hotel. After 20 min the hotel manager came out and told me to walk over 2 blocks. So I did, didn't see it so I asked 2 other tour directors who runs the hike on the glacier. Both told me to go back past my hotel to Base Glacier.  Nope, back to the main road about 500 yards to Heli Hike!  I'm late and miss some instructions. They give me boots and socks to put on, a fanny pack and a waterproof jacket. While signing the release I see there are health questions. Yes I have had knee surgery in both, turned my ankle severely a month ago but have a brace, yes I take high blood pressure meds, but no heart surgery or asthma. OK I'm good to go. 

We walk through some shrubs across the street an it opens to a massive flat area with 4-6 very rough helio pads. The copter can only take 5 and pilot. Our group takes 3 trips to get to the glacier. I know the photos do not do justice. We flew over quite a small portion but it silenced everyone in awe!  The blue color of the ice spires is beautiful. We are snapping pictures like crazy. We land with pinpoint perfection and put on the crampons (metal spikes that attach to the bottom of the boot). There are 2 leaders and they offer a fast group and a leisure one. In my 20-40s no doubt I would have accepted the challenge, but at 61 I'm going leisure. 

This should give some perspective of the ice.

Within the first 100 feet I realize I am in over my head with a bum ankle but keep going. I slipped

 and fell 3 times and the guide decided to be my personal assistant! AJ was so sweet and a young girl behind me carried my camera. At this point I trusted her more than myself. I'm not kidding, glaciers are NOT FLAT. We stopped for a short rest and he challenged us to drink from the glacial pool so I did and it was so pure and cold if course.

The weather was warm and overcast thank goodness. When the sun peaked out I stared to get a bit nauseous and AJ told me to take off my hat. It cooled me off a lot. Back to the helicopter and back to level ground. He flew on our flight and I gave him a $10 tip because I would not have made it without his hand holding, literally. 

Looking up at the spires of blue ice.

When I hit the street after returning equipment I began to sweat profusely. Exhaustion, a workout like I've never had and perhaps some anxiety for what I just accomplished. I slept in my soggy clothes for 2 hours. Amen 

Up,  shower and off to dinner at the Monsoon, right next to my hotel, Punga Grove. I have splurged

Another delicious meal!

with Pioneer Chicken with ricotta and spinach, roast potatoes and spring onions in a mushroom sauce. The drink is ginger ale. My stomach is not ready for beer yet. Oh yes I celebrated with chocolate mud cake!!  

Repacking and up for a bus and train ride tomorrow.

More adventures to come, but I think I have completed the major physical tasks at this point. I don't think Hobbitown will be too bad after that glacier.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Leaving Queenstown for Franz Josef today.

For some reason I couldn’t sleep at the Rees Hotel last night. It has been my favorite hotel and for those that have traveled with me, I even liked the pillows and walked barefoot on the floor!!

I was up at 6am so I decided to have breakfast at the hotel. Vanilla pancakes with caramelised banana and bacon with orange juice for $28.00 NZ. I needed to have that with the long bus ride ahead of me for the day. The desk clerk brought my luggage all the way up the driveway of the Reese and across the street to the bus stop! No easy feat! Our bus came on time and off we go at 8 am.

The bus driver was very informative. When we would pass something historical he would tell us a story or just be silly. We stopped every hour for a 10 minute break. Some of the places we stop are amusing. They are places where there are pubic toilets (as they say) or a small café to get a snack or piece of fruit. This photo is from a salmon farm. I kept my eye on that white heron. He was getting closer and closer but no catch while I was watching him.

When we reached the western coastline, he stopped at a lookout for the chance to take some photos. The coast in that section is much like Oregon with the large rock like structures rising up from the shallow waves. There is a lot of driftwood covering the area by the dunes and people on the beach appear to be picking up trash.

The drive here was very different than Dunedin to Queenstown. There we saw rolling hills and a lot

of sheep. Here there are more streams, rivers and sharp mountain peaks. Every flat area has a name. I did pass a stream called “Roaring Meg”. Sound like anyone we know?

Our arrival in Franz Josef was early at 4:00PM. I must say the view of the glaciers, Fox and Franz Josef was amazing. I can’t believe they do not melt in the sun! Tomorrow I will see it up close for myself as I am going on my first helicopter ride and glacier walk.

After the arrival at Punga Gorda hotel, I deposit all my stuff, grab the camera and tripod and get a few shots of the small street and glacier in the background. Dinner at The Landing was fun as I joined to other Americans at their table. Of course the wife has a son who graduated from Downingtown! They live in Boston now and are here for 3 weeks also. They just completed the tour I am taking tomorrow and gave me many tips, so now I am …cough cough….prepared to walk on a glacier. Dinner was chicken satay, rice and a small salad with a Summit ale.

I stopped in the Wildlife Centre for Kiwis across the street but the ticket was $35 just to see some kiwis in cages – not sure I want to see them in that environment. They are nocturnal so it is difficult to spot them running wild.  There is one guy who has transmitters on some so he can run tours and find them in the dark. The poor kiwis! I think I’ll go to the zoo.

Not much else happened today since it was a long drive. I’m sure I’ll have some interesting details tomorrow.