Ice Ice baby

After camping next to a raging river we awoke to the dreaded drizzle, spirits still high from the day before we set off south and before long the sun was out again and we begun getting excited about out Glacier experience later in the day, not to mention the very much needed wash in the complementary glacier hot pools afterwards. However on arrival in Franz Joseph we were told our trip had been double booked and the fault lay (as per usual) with the DOC lady in the eyesore up the road who had not booked us in properly. RAGING! Disheartened we re booked for later in the day at the next Glacier down - Fox Glacier - and jumped back in the van and headed on down the road. Enroute angry looking clouds began brewing on the western horizon and before we knew it the rain which began as a patter begun to lash down and by the time we arrived neither of us wanted to leave the van to even turn on the gas never mind climb a Glacier. After a quick hot choc and a call to the Fox Guiding company  our tour was changed to the next day with promises of better weather and a chance to book into a posh campsite with hot showers our moral improved significantly. Not feeling in any way guilty we made full use of the hot showers (for my self to shear off my beard and mairi a chance to wash her hair properly) and then moved on to hog the tv remote from kids in the tv room.

*The text in italics is for iain boyd's  benefit.*

Awaking to a crisp/freezingly clear stary sky we made it up to the Lake Mathieson for dawn(ish) to witness the 'miracle' of seeing the mountains reflected 'perfectly' in the lake. This was one of worst times for "I wish I'd brought my SLR and tripod and Filters". And the wee camera just didn't really do it justice, it was beautifully peaceful and well worth the dawny mission. After a hearty breakfast it was time to head on up the Glacier and as there want a cloud in the sky we began to feel rather smug about how things had worked out. The drive up to the glacier along the U shaped Valley was impressive, but it was nothing compared to what we witnessed as we climbed over the Terminal Moraine to the Glacial river pouring out of a hole in the ice and watching the steam rise from the freezing water as it met with the warmer air. The trek up onto the glacier was magnificent, Mairi could barely contain her excitement through her shivering and chattering teeth. While climbing up a set of hacked out steps (they were of exceptional quality) the shout "Ewan...Ewan McMillan" met us, as Sam Butler came into view wielding a massive axe (pretty much as big as himself). Sam being a good mate from Tarbert was working as guide on the Glacier and had been assigned to step cutting that day. Small world eh! From glacier  the truncated spurs with their steep sides littered with scree and their hanging valley water falls were pointed out and effect the high levels of precipitation and frost shattering had on the danger of rock falls on the valley floor. After being told/scared about the possibilities/dangers of crevasse and the  labyrinth of tunnels draining away melt water through the ice I was almost glad to get my feet back on the almost secure ground of the valley floor. After our extensive tour of the lower glacier we  headed back down to catch up with Sam for dinner.