Fox Glacier
We Arrive at Fox Glacier-23.11.2005
We finally arrive late in the afternoon. But we are given bad news that the helicopter flight we had counted on, may not happen because of bad weather conditions. This was be a big disappointment, as neither of us had ever been in a helicopter. 
So we decided to walk to the Glacier Terminal Face instead.
We arrived at the office of the tour group and were all fitted out with walking boots and parka’s in readiness for the big hike.
It was getting late in the day at 3pm when we left on the old bus that took us up to the terminal carpark, from where we were to start the walk.
We had 2 guides and they were very knowledgable about the area.
We slowly began the trek up the mountain to the Glacial Face.
When we arrived, just over an hour later, the sight was worth every ache and pain we experienced later in the night.
So we decided to walk to the Glacier Terminal Face instead.We arrived at the office of the tour group and were all fitted out with walking boots and parka’s in readiness for the big hike.
It was getting late in the day at 3pm when we left on the old bus that took us up to the terminal carpark, from where we were to start the walk.
We had 2 guides and they were very knowledgable about the area.
We slowly began the trek up the mountain to the Glacial Face.
When we arrived, just over an hour later, the sight was worth every ache and pain we experienced later in the night.
We lingered a while, breathing in the fresh air and the majestic Glacier. One of our guides scrambled down to the river that was coming out from under the glacier and brought back a huge block of ice from underneath. We all got to handle it and some of us even ate some of it as it is very thirsty work trekking uphill and over rocks and streams to get there.
All too soon, it was time to begin the journey back to the carpark, but the treats weren’t yet over.
Along the way we saw some wildflowers and the scenery looked so different going back, I guess because we not in such a hurry to go back as we were when we started out.
A few times we turned around and looked back at the glacier, as it could be seen for ages.
Along the track, Arthur found a pretty little bird that he took a photo of. We have no idea what it was. And when we got back to the carpark there were quite a few wild Kea feeding and fossicking for food. These birds look pretty ordinary on the ground, but when they lift their wings to fly, they present the viewer to their spectacular red under feathers.
We returned, weary but excited from the experience.
All too soon, it was time to begin the journey back to the carpark, but the treats weren’t yet over.
Along the way we saw some wildflowers and the scenery looked so different going back, I guess because we not in such a hurry to go back as we were when we started out.
A few times we turned around and looked back at the glacier, as it could be seen for ages.
Along the track, Arthur found a pretty little bird that he took a photo of. We have no idea what it was. And when we got back to the carpark there were quite a few wild Kea feeding and fossicking for food. These birds look pretty ordinary on the ground, but when they lift their wings to fly, they present the viewer to their spectacular red under feathers.
We returned, weary but excited from the experience.