Franz Josef Glacier – The Glacier, not the town

Beautiful day today so we decided to hike up to the glacier’s edge. Not too many people and the hike was really easy, along a riverbed. Saw a few waterfalls along the way and surprisingly, no animals. Franz Josef glacier is 7.5 miles long and named after the Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria. (Huh??)  The Maori name for the glacier is Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere (the tears of Hine Hukatere). Now it makes sense!

Like it’s fellow glaciers, Franz Josef once reached the sea, about 10-15,000 years ago. Now it cycles between advancing and retreating depending on  meltwater and snow fall. No, they didn’t mention global warming and we didn’t see a single person chained to a tree trying to stop the ice from melting. We did see a sign that warned of the dangers of ice falling from the glacier. Apparently two tourists from India didn’t read the sign and were buried under several tons of ice as they posed for pictures by the glaciers edge. Gotchya!

Anyway, impressive and much easier than walking to Alaskan glaciers.

Stop right there, amigo! Any closer and that there glacier could run right over ya!

That’s it for glacier hiking so back to town for a late lunch and a bit of relaxing. This hiking and tramping is strenuous stuff. Must recharge…..

Tomorrow, off to the Wild Foods Festival in Hokitaka (pronounced, Hokitaka).