We get kitted up with thick woollen socks, leather hiking boots and a waterproof hooded jacket and board the bus which takes us to the beginning of the glacier walk we would have taken.
We get kitted up with thick woollen socks, leather hiking boots and a waterproof hooded jacket and board the bus which takes us to the beginning of the glacier walk we would have taken. The girls are the only children on the hike and our guide Tyler tells us, as we hike to the terminal face stepping across icy blue streams, that Rowi is the youngest person he has ever taken out on a glacier walk. The terminal face is amazing and our guide explains each part of our journey in detail.
As we climb up the side of the glacier we see the old path used only a few days previously but now covered by a sudden land slip. We climb up the final path before stopping to attach our crampons. The girls have to wrap the strap around twice for their smaller feet and then enter via freshly cut steps through a narrow v shaped channel between two ice walls which turns out to be a filled in crevasse. We descend down more cut ice steps and are blown away by the blue colouring of the ice around us.
We venture out onto the middle of the glacier complete with alpenstocks, following in single file, stomping our crampon points into the ice as we go. It was all too easy to forget that we were walking on a glacier 100 metres thick.
. We stomp a while longer before reaching a hollowed out sun cup which has progressed and evolved into an ice cave which we are able to walk through.
At one point we have to slide on our tummies through an ice tunnel before emerging at the other side in an icy heap. Tiegan enjoys it so much she makes David have another trip through!
At the farthest point of our walk, having reached the other edge, we come across a small glacial pool and enjoy fresh glacial water to drink before heading back across the ice.We feel truly lucky (again!) to have shared this experience - it was an amazing adventure!
While we are there we have a change of heart about our chosen place to stay - Greymouth is an industrial town, full of miners and dockworkers and during the winter our hostel is used more like a boarding house for some of the men working here. We have no web access on the laptop from where we are and predictably it is now raining and dark. We know McDonalds has free wifi so head to the drive through and sit in the car park to try and find an alternative. Mercifully the YHA has a room so we return to pick up our packs, make our excuses and decamp to much better surroundings. Phew! There are some lovely girls from the UK already staying here - they are travelling on a Magic Bus tour around NZ and they entertain the girls playing jenga after supper.
soooo jealous of your glacier walk - will have to put it on my list of 50 things to do before 2020!!
ReplyDeleteKeep enjoying lol J xx
Such a fantastic record of your travels Nicole... I can't tell you how much I am enjoying reading about your adventures. I have been paying special attention to your NZ posts as will need lots of advice and recommendations for our trip next Christmas! You have also made my sister wistful and hanker to return to NZ. She travelled there 15ish years ago and has always wanted to go back.
ReplyDeleteMiss you lots and sending advance birthday wishes to Rowi xx
I like the sliding on your tummies through the ice tunnel, reminds me of the opening scenes of 'Ice Age'. Good to hear you are all well and happy - keep warm and keep posting xxx
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