Franz Josef Glacier: Terminal walk

After our exciting helicopter landing on the Fox Glacier in the morning, we decided to take a walk to the nearby Franz Josef Glacier terminal (makes it sound like a bus) in the afternoon.  This glacier is flowing at the rate of about one metre per day.

Piece of cake really – nothing to worry about except flooding, river surge, ice fall or rock fall.

 

We began with a walk through some attractive undergrowth.  This area was all under the glacier in 1867.  The glacier has retreated since then, but is now advancing at the rate of 1.5 – 1.7 metre a day.

 

Then we moved into the glacier valley.

 

I had to admit I felt particularly vulnerable in this glacier valley, with the glacier itself poised threateningly above us.  What if it should suddenly have an extra melt.

 

There were some interesting rocks in the glacier valley.  However, there were so many rocks in the valley that I didn’t have time to photograph then all, so I kept on going.

 

 

We passed a small pool which reflected the glacier.

 

Occasionally, waterfalls tumbled into the glacier valley.

 

Finally, after walking up the glacier valley for about an hour, we reached a barrier fence about 500 metres from the glacier terminal.

 

We were cautioned in no uncertain terms not to cross the barrier fence.

 

So then we turned round and went back again…..

 

…..leaving the glacier behind us.

 

A short walk from the beginning of the glacier terminal walk was Peter’s Pool, where you could photograph reflections of the glacier.

 

Back at our motel, we had drinks with our next door neighbours, another couple from Melbourne, who had also had a helicopter ride and walked to the glacier terminal, after a truly memorable “double H” day, 19th April 2012.