Into the blue-literally

Today Katelyn and I climbed Franz Josef Glacier. But first we had to gear up at the guide office; water-proof pants, rain jacket, hat, gloves, boots, wool socks, and most importantly- crampons.

Then it was just a short bus ride and we were in the national park! Since we were with guides, we escaped the main path and followed a narrow, single-file path through the rain forest to get to the start of the glacier bed. It was a sharp contrast to go from the very green, wet, squishy forest path to entering the rocky, glacier area. After 40 minutes of trekking over  the flat, grey rock shingles that were left over as the glacier receded, and up the giant pile of gravel and rocks, we donned our crampons and ventured out on to the ice. 

The gravely stuff where the Glacier used to sit

Phil, our guide, took us up the initial ice band. We hiked through waves of white ice going up, up, and further up! 

Eventually we had a bit of a break for lunch- just enough to cool off from climbing  and really feel the chill of the surrounding ice, and for the rain to come in. On went the waterproof pants and the hoods came up on our jackets. Despite the rain, now the real fun begins! We descended in to what they call the Stargate Cave.  As we ducked under the ice we entered a light-blue crystallized world.

As much fun as it would have been to stay in this alien, but beautiful world, we had to keep going. We were faced with our first crack-crawl, sideways we shuffled along, backs pressed against the ice behind us, hips twisted to keep our feet facing forward, hands held against the wall that is inches from our noses.  Sandwiched  between unyielding ice(literally) blue walls, with barely room to move, we slowly inched our way out. 

The rest of the trek was spent climbing in and out of these gorgeous worlds. If we weren't inside the glacier enjoying the ice caverns, we were looking out over the glacier  valley. 

At one point  we were supposed to go through a crevasse and a tunnel, but we had to turn around because Phil got stuck! The female guide of the group behind us decided to lead those of us who were willing through this tunnel and allow anyone who didn't to go around. I did it, but I would like to say that if something is so small not even your guide will go through- well, it's going to be tight. The start of it wasn't too bad, but then we got to the tunnel. About waist height,  in the narrowest part of the crevasse, there wasn't even room to bend my knees to crouch down! I had a slight panicked moment before I mostly, completely ungracefully fell through the tunnel. Grateful to be alive, and cursing my wide hips,  I was glad to see the other side. 

After that slightly terrifying experience, it was all down hill from there. Chilled, and sopping wet(it never stopped raining, and there is only so much waterproof clothes can do) I think we were all torn with desire to stay and explore more and go back to a nice warm cup of tea. The tea won out in the end. 

Back at Chateau Franz, we were rooming with a lovely English girl for the night. Franz Josef is definitely hopping with Internationals; we had three Irish girls with us the first night, and the glacier hike was a lovely mix of all sorts of different countries. It's fascinating to talk to everyone and learn bits and pieces of different cultures.