Hiking to the base of Franz Josef
New Years Party
Distance: walking, 11km
Total Distance: 4031km
Having walked so far and so hard yesterday the morning was spent reading and wondering if I was eligible for Lieutenant Dan's Space Legs.
But in the afternoon I was contacted by the two Dutch girls who, like me, had stayed in Franz Josef for a few extra days and to go up to the glacier tomorrow. We organised to do the walk which goes as close as is allowed, given safety concerns, namely falling rocks and ice.
The day was beautiful and helicopters flew over us every few minutes. We passed over the little bridge out of town, through rain forest and onto the river bed. At points there were signs showing where the glacier had come to over the past few thousand years. It has been receding for a long time, but even more so in the past 8 years. It used to be possible to walk up and onto the glacier- I spoke to a guy who did it 15 years ago and is presently revisiting, now with his family. After too many falls and concerns though it has been decided that people can only go onto the glacier via helicopter now- expensive but fun way to do it.
Later on that evening we went to the bar connected to the hostel.
"The Monsoon: It Rains...We Pour"
Rain is very frequent here. It rains about as much as the UK near the sea, and well over 10 times that above the glacier- hence the glacier being here. The rain comes as winds travel east across Australia, got hot, pass over the Tasman Sea, pick up moisture, then hit the Southern Alps of the South Island and dump it on to. Hence the snowy peaks of Middle-Earth.
I chatted with the Dutch girls from my old bus, some people from my new bus, a German girl I travelled with on the North Island who's on my new bus, and most of the guides- great guys. I found a ginormous Mexican party sombrero somewhere. And that's how New Year passed.
Happy New Year!
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