Fox Glacier & Lake Matheson

Saturday may 22nd
Today I woke up at 6:15 and called Ty since it was 1 in the afternoon to him. It was pitch black and freezing outside (I'm such a nice girl friend!) we went on a group hike around lake matheson at 7 am. Got done sound 8:45 and got lattes in the cafe on the lake! Got back to our cabins (best way to describe this place) and had breakfast scraps from what's left from our grocery trip a few weeks ago. The bread was molded so we really only had cereal and yogurt as an option. I was on cleaning crew so did allthe dishes then we had a fee lectures. Learned about podocarp trees which are my favorite and then learned about glaciers, glacier retreating, and global warming ad it's effect on glaciers. Very very interesting, can't say I fully understand it all yet though. We went into town and had lunch at a cute little cafe and then got all geared up for our glacier hike! We got special boots from the company and crampons to strap onto our shoes and ice picks. We got on the bus and headed to the glacier. We had quite a hike to the actualy glacier. Hiked a mile up through the rainforest an bizarrly got to the glaciers from te rainforest. This is one of the only places in the world where you can see a glacier in a temperate climate. Don't get me wrong though... The glacier itself was freezing! It was the neatest experience! Walked up the glacier and got a good look at it. It's huge though, the glacier itself is 6 miles! We walked only part of it but it was amazing! Definitely something most people can't say they've done or ever will do! The west coast of new Zealand is so neat! And we've only been in the west for a day!         

Love love love!

Caitlin