Franz Josef glacier

After leaving Wanaka we headed via shuttle bus to Franz Josef Glacier. After our five hour drive we decided to have a night in. Franz is a small town...not a lot to do. We cooked up some delicious burrito's and had a movie night (so nice to do every once in a while!) The next day we headed to the glacier with a guided tour. Above is a picture as we hiked in. We would soon be up on top of the glacier. Franz is amazing...it is a glacier in a "rainforest". The only other one like it (besides it's neighbor Fox) is in South America. A strange concept to be wearing crampons and hiking on ice in a t-shirt.

Our large group split into three....we were lucky enough to get into the "more athletic" group...got to spend more time on the ice and descend into a crevice. This is a photo from our hike up onto the glacier..the steepest part. Once you get through the scree (rocks slides all earound you) you get to a "ice staircase" that the guides are constantly working on with pick axes. The crampons they gave us worked wonders. Never even slipped.

On the glacier..you may be able to see the staircase right up the middle....

Our guide setting the rope for us to use to descend into the crevice...most of them hike in shorts.

Dean heading down....the first few stairs our pretty good...but towards the bottom there is barely room to put your feet down. The walls are flowing with water and it get's very tight. Thank goodness for the rope!

My turn....On the way up I smacked my knee on the ice...yes, the same knee that just recoverd from Bursitis....poor knee.

We met up with a fantastic English couple that we ended up going out with later that night...shared travel stories and many a pint. Our trip down the glacier was interesting...soon after taking this photo the rainforest skies opened up and it POURED rain....it put Portland to shame. We all got drenched...even with the rain jacket provided....our boots were like puddles. It was actually miserable....we were just happy to be the tour hiking OUT...and felt sorry for the one hiking IN.