Camels, Kiwis, and Bears: Exploring the Glacier

My first thought of New Zealand was that it was eerily similar to Canada in it's magnificent scenery and wildly entertaining people.

When cruising into Franz Josef the first thought that comes to mind is “this is the reason I’m travelling New Zealand.” Situated in Westland Tai Poutini National Park, this city meets all your outdoor adventure needs.

The small town is comprised of two streets, 330 welcoming locals, and is set in the heart of the rainforest (quite disorienting after you catch sight of towering glacier packed mountains right above your head). The West Coast of New Zealand is the only place in the world you will find rainforest and glacial biomes in such close proximity.

Bronwyn was a childhood friend of mine who used to work as a Franz Josef Glacier Guide before opening up her own kayaking company. One morning she invited me along with some of her friends to hike Fox Glacier (just 30 minutes south of Franz). I lucked into having my own personal guide and the necessary equipment to explore the glacier way above the designated turn-back point for general public guided tours. Bingo.

Unloading for the hike

The trickiest part about walking on the glacier is accepting the fact that you are walking on a sheet of ice. Glacier terrain varies with every step; some parts are as flat as the prairies while other areas required climbing equipment. Bronwyn came equipped with an ice ax to carve steps in anything too vertical for our own comfort. With crampons fastened tightly around our boots, slipping and sliding on the ice is out of the question, but you have to learn to trust your equipment. The faster you do this, the faster you can relax and appreciate your breathtaking surroundings, letting your imagination take you back to the last ice age.

Crampon!

Glaciers are one of the most exquisite natural wonders ever created. If you are lucky enough to catch it on a sunny day, the light reflects off the ice in such a way that the glacier looks as though it’s composed of thousands of diamonds rather than frozen water molecules. Carved by water and shaped by tectonic processes, the features of the glacier are both astonishing and unusual. It’s easy to loose yourself in its ancient beauty. It's these experiences in life that open your eyes to the astonishing wonders that lay undiscovered by a vast majority of the population. All it takes is a little exploring!