Heli HIke onto Franz Josef Glacier

Only 7 of our group chose to do the Heli Hike. The rest will go do a hike in the area. We were dropped off at the tour operators and outfitted with a jacket, pants, socks, boots, mittens, crampons and a bag. Everyone was weighed and then placed in the helicopter. We flew up the valley and landed on the glacier.

After a safety briefing and putting on our crampons and getting our hiking pole, our guide, Zac had an axe which he used to cut steps into the ice on steeper sections. He showed us an ice cave and asked if we wanted to go through it. Everyone said yes. He tied a rope on each end and one by one we lowered ourselves down and though. It was wet and very slippery and even a bit scary, but fun.

After we finished with that, we hiked up towards the large pieces which Zac told us were over 6 stories tall. The sun came out and you could see the blue ice. Incredible! Some areas were starined and streaky with dirt and sediment which gave them black and white stripes.

We were on the glacier about 3 hours. Flew back, undressed and went back to the Snakebite brewery with our lunches Mel had made and more  cider and beer. It was a beautiful day. Around 3:30, Claire picked us up and we went to meet the rest of the group that had hiked. It was a 3 hour drive south to Makarora. Very small town and it took 35 years to get a road. (1965) Had dinner and played pool. Marty left a Ludington Bay brewery sticker behind at the bar.