Franz Josef Glacier, NZ

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2004 December: Half-day trip

Climb Franz Josef Glacier
New Zealand, South Island


Post script

After this walk,
I decided I would like to climb Aconcagua.

More about this later.


First, the blog

Arrived at Franz Josef township
just in time to join the afternoon climbing tour
for the Franz Josef Glacier.

The tour duration was supposed to be 4 hours.

But half an hour each way was taken by
a shuttle bus from the town to the Glacier carpark.

Another hour each way was taken up by walking
from the carpark to the mouth of the Glacier,
leaving only an hour for the actual Glacier climb.


Pictures

1)  The shuttle bus.

It will take us to the starting point of the walk.
The woman in red will be our guide
for the afternoon.

2)  The Franz Josef Glacier is in the distance.

Near its mouth, it is a bit dirty looking.
But the further up you are,
the cleaner the glacier becomes.

3)  Closer to the glacier.

4)  Climbing up.

This was the first time I used a crampon,
and walked on a glacier.

The experience was fantastic.
And I cursed myself for not taken
the whole-day tour, which would allow me to
climb higher up the Glacier.


5)  Typical path up the glacier.

6)  At times, it can be like a maze.

7)  Me, on the glacier.

8)  A New Zealand Kea.
     The world's only alpine parrot.

The kea has a notorious urge
to explore and to manipulate
which make this bird a pest for residents
and an attraction for tourists.

Called "the clown of the mountains",
it will investigate backpacks,
boots, skis, snowboards, and even cars,
often causing damage or
flying off with smaller items.

9)  Our guide.

10)  Highlight of the trip !
       Walking through a crevasse in the glacier.

This glacier is supposed to move quite fast,
can be up to 70 cm a day.
I didn't ask what would happen
if the crevasse suddenly closed up
while we were walking through it.
The less I know the more peaceful the mind !

11)  Climbing down now.

12)  Climbing down.

After the walk

At the end of the 4-hour trip,
my leg muscles were very tired and sore.

Just as well I didn't take the whole-day tour ...
I wouldn't be able to last that long.

And suddenly I felt old, really really old.

Looking around the shuttle bus
that took us back to the town,
I noticed the other people in the tour
were all much younger.

Only 4 hours ago I felt young and energetic,
and so eager to join the tour.

Now 4 hours later, so much had changed.
I had suddenly become an old man.


Reflections

This realization caused me to re-think
about life's priorities.

Prior to the NZ trip, my hobby was chess.

Now I wanted to see more of the world
before I became too old to travel.

In particular, I would like to see the part of
the world where an old man couldn't get to,
like mountain tops.

Cities like Paris and Rome can wait.
Whereas summits can't wait
as I wouldn't know when my body would pack up
and could't climb anymore.

A Google search soon revealed that
Argentina's Aconcagua is probably
the highest non-technical peak one can climb.

So now the die is cast ...
Aconcagua watch out. I'm coming !!!


The next day

After the glacier climb, the night is spent
in a motel in the Franz Josef township.

The next day is to drive back to Christchurch
via Hokitika and Arthur's Pass.

13)  Passing through Arthur's Pass.
       Beautiful scenery !!!

14)  Passing through Arthur's Pass.
       Beautiful scenery !!!

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