Glaciers of the Southern Alps

Our drive up the West Coast included a brief look at Fox Glacier and an even better look at Franz Josef Glacier. We joined a virtual parade of sightseers as we walked from the car park, through a short rainforest and on to the base of the glacier.

More often than not, we read about glaciers melting and receding due to global warming. Both the Fox and Franz Josef, however, have been advancing since 1982 due to heavy snowfall in the mountains.

A number of folks were taking guided walks up onto the glacier. Although time restraints didn't allow Thomas Kent and Susan Lynn to walk on the Franz Josef, we got a good look at a whole lot of compressed snow and ice.