Thursday 19 February 2015

FOX GLACIER VALLEY

We headed back to Fox Glacier township on some unfinished business.  Last year we took advantage of ideal conditions to view both Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier from the top end with a landing on the snow field.  But this left us no time to view the terminal face of the glacier from the valley below.

On the snow field - 2014

First up, we cycled the 2km from Fox Glacier township to the track leading to "Glacier View".  The track leads off State Highway 6 on the far side of Fox River just after the road bridge. From here the track climbs steadily for about 3km before a window through the forest opens up with a top-to-bottom view of the glacier.

View from Glacier View Point



A further 0.5km up the track there is the car park for our chosen walk, The Chalet Lookout Track.  The information board warns that the track may become impassable after rain and advises on what to look out for.  Without any significant rain for sometime we set off confidently.

The first creeks are bridged, but a gap in the forest revealed one of the larger streams and its field of boulders; an indication of what was to come.

Stream next to Chalet Lookout Track

After a steady 30 to 40 minutes climb through the forest we emerged at Mills Creek.  A couple of other walkers seemed to be exploring up and down the creek and it soon became clear why;  the marked path through the stream looked to be too flooded.  We clambered over the supersize rocks to try and find an easier, and ideally, dry route.  In the end it was clear that we would have to get wet feet.

Crossing Mills Creek

Once across it was a short but steep climb to cross the ridge between Mills Stream and Fox Glacier Valley before arriving at the Chalet viewpoint.  In the 1800s and early 1900s, the terminal face of the ice was beneath the Chalet but it has significantly receded since then.  But what a view!

The Chalet Lookout


After returning to the township for lunch we set off again for a closer encounter.  This time we took advantage of the purpose built Te Weheka cycle track.  This is a traffic free route from the town through the forest to the "Glacier Access" car park on the near side of the river.  From there it is a 1 hour return walk to a viewpoint close to the receding glacier.


View from Glacier Valley track

That is Fox Glacier covered from most angles; perhaps just a guided hike on the glacier itself left?  And we could always take a closer look at Franz Josef.

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