Franz Joseph: the glacier that killed my camera

From Barrytown we made the trek to the Franz Joseph Glacier. I decided to do a full day climb which was amazing, but exhausting, cold, and very wet. I think I spent a total of at least 6 full hours on the glacier, and I was totally in my element: cold, snow, ice, rain. In my group, I was the only one that wasn't complaining after the 6th hour when we were soaked and freezing. I think it's because of all my 10 hour days spent on the bloc while treeplanting in freezing rain that made me not mind so much. While on the ice, we had cramp-ons over our boots (little ice picks) to grip into the ice.

We were also all wearing matching outfits--blue rain coat, black rain pants, and a red fanny pack for our cramps-ons--which made the scene that much more ridiculous. The ice itself is really incredible, and has a sort of a whiteish-blue quality to it. Also, the glacier is constantly moving, creating new, deep, dangerous crevices all the time, so you must be very careful.

The coolest part of the day was when we went down into a 30 meter deep crevis. I think I could do that everyday.

I really liked walking with the cramp-ons on. You had to stomp your feet every step to make sure you had a good grip on the ice. It was a really good way to get the rage out!!! It was fun!

The hostel we stayed at also had a resident cat who was kinda bitchy, but looking for love (my kind of cat). We didn't know his name, but he really liked Anika.

So, I made it off the glacier in one piece, but unfortantely my camera died a gorry death there. I thought he would be okay, but even after putting him in a bag of rice for a day, he is gone. I will miss him. We had some good times together.