Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier is part of the Westland National Park. Fox Glacier and its sibling Franz Josef Glacier are the closest glaciers to the equator.

Here's a picture of Franz Josef Glacier. Our destination was Fox Glacier, so we only saw Franz Josef in passing. [1280x960]

We flew up to Fox Glacier in a helicopter.

Below, you can see the run off from the melting glacier.

This was the first time I'd ever been in a helicopter. Very cool.

Here we are, flying close to the glacier. Pictures don't do this glacier justice. It's huge.

Before landing on the ice field, we flew by Victoria Falls.

Closer shot of Victoria Falls.

Landing on the glacier.

A view of the glacier from on the ground. [1280x960]

Here's a picture of me! And yes, I'm wearing shorts (because they said we could) and no, it's not as cold as it looks.

A small ice tunnel.

Water falling down an ice crevice.

Cynthia, showing off her spiked heels.

A bigger ice tunnel.

An archway made of melting ice.

The deeper into the ice, the bluer it gets. [1280x960]

A crevice in the glacier. [1280x960]

Another ice chasm. [1200x1600]

The clouds are moving in, time to get off the glacier before we're stuck up here.

Helicopter pickup.

Safely inside the helicopter.

Wow, what a great day!

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