New Zealand Above Glacierland Day 28Dec22

We brought breakfast in by stopping at 4 Square yesterday on the way back. The berries, kiwis, and bananas are very good but expensive ~ the restaurants & hotels don't serve that stuff. Today was a killer day opening with a helicopter ride to and around the glaciers. We took off from the flats outside Fox Glacier (the town) and zoomed up Franz Joseph Glacier (the biggest) then around Mt Cook (the highest) and landed atop Fox Glacier (the longest) in the shadow of Mt Tasman (the 2nd highest) for a brief walk and some pics. It was awesome. There were some goats (no pics) and a tiny radical cabin on a cliff high up Fox Glacier.

 

After the walk on Fox Glacier and some pics we hopped back on the "bus" for a rip down mountain with some rad helo moves to spot goats, and more great views. We landed and on the flats and donned tougher boots, Kala liked my brook trout socks choice, and topped the AM with a long black at Cafe Neve in town.

We've been hiking quite a bit and today is no different. We suited up for the Lake Matheson Hike in that Natl Pk plus did extra credit to Lake Gault (Who is John Gault?). This is a hike nearish to Fox Glacier (the town) as we'd not be back; it's a big glacier-fed fresh water lake up from which on the ridge lies another lake... the hike was 7.6mi & 1300ft of vert and included more keen Kiwi trail engineering. There might've browns in Matheson, but we didn't stop or try ~ stillwater: meh. Gualt was devoid and quite red from iron we sensed... we hiked up there first. We met a German couple with whom I traded greetings and thanks for a shorter than marked track uphill, and a French-speaking couple from Corsica who Kala engaged. This track featured alternatives to mosses in this area and very cool fern grottoes. It is known for perfect reflections of Mt Cook and such but wind broke the mirror and clouds dimmed the peaks... the reflection I captured was of our heads at our feet.

We earned the nice dinner & pops back in FJ at Monsoon. Stuff opens at 5pm here and we were the 2nd patrons this day. Monsoon killed it on pizza day with a garlic seared prawn, chorizo, and peppers pizza and a few tasty cold ones. The beers in Westland are not as good as in Nelson by any means but whatev...