1/2 day Fox Glacier walk
 

Has anyone done this? I've read the information on foxguides.co.nz and it states "moderate fitness required, involves uphill climbing". I walk and don't have a problem hiking uphill, but I don't climb. Just how much climbing is involved? Will this be too strenuous for me? Thanks.

We've done this walk - at the time, my daughter was 6 and my son was 9. They give you hobnail boots and an alpenstock (a dowel with a metal tip), as well as instep crampons for walking on the glacier.

You are taken on a bus to the end of the road, then walk up the valley until you approach the glacier terminus. You then ascend a trail that traverses the left slope (looking up) of the valley wall until you reach a point where you can walk out onto the top surface of the glacier.

The climb is hard, but not extremely strenuous. I am not at all fit and managed it just fine, as did my little daughter, and an elderly woman in our party.

On the other hand, I had some concerns over safety. Much of the climbing traverse crossed bare rock or boulder slabs, which were very slippery under out hobnailed bootsoles. The drop-off was long and steep if anyone were to slip off the trail. Also, on the glacier surface itself, there were no ropes of any sort, even though we jumped across small crevasses. A couple of people fell on ice slopes and slid down a bit, getting chafed and bruised. It would have been a good idea to tell folks to wear long pants.

Bottom Line: It was a great experience, and I would do it again, but be careful.

Alf, thanks for the information. I will take my chances with this walk, but heed your advice. The views must have been incredible. Were the boots easy to get used to? They are technically "new" shoes and I like my lived-in shoes for hiking. Thanks again for your help.

The supplied boots were quite old and beat-up mid-weight leather boots with thick lug soles. Certainly comfortable and workable, except for the hobnails-on bare rock problem cited above. I don't know if you can use your own boots or not - I think that the boot soles must be a certain width and thickness to accommodate the instep crampons.

On a nice day, the views are indeed wonderful, both up- and down-glacier. Also the melted-ice shapes on the glacier surface are quite intricate and beautiful.

Thanks again. I'm really looking forward to this.

while I've dug this topic out, anyone else wants to share their experience? Though I'm more keen on teh full day hike, I'm sceptical about my own physical ability. How much more difficult is the full day hike from your experience/observation.

Hi Chinoa. I just did the Franz Joseph 1/2 day hike several weeks ago and that was quite strenuous. The bottom of the glacier was extremely steep and the climb up (and down) was pretty intense. This was compounded by the fact that it was pouring rain and very windy, though not cold. You can read my description in my trip report in this forum. I don't know how comparable my experience on Franz would be with Fox. There were no children or "older" people on our hike. I was probably one of the oldest, hiking with my 24 year old son and his girlfriend. That said, it was a fantastic experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I don't know how much more is involved in the full day; I'd suggest you check directly with the companies that run the hikes. Since the conditions on the glaciers (steepness, etc.) vary with the weather and other factors, you can get a more up-to-date report from them. Good luck!

Hi Sharon.

I've read and heard about how steep and tough the Franz Josef glacier 1/2 day hike is. I have friends in other forums who "gave up" in the middle of the walk and rested till the group descent. A gal described it as "pay $ to suffer".

And it does appear that the Fox glacier is a easier climb as the terrain is more gentle. So claimed by the glacier hike companies. Thus thought I'll rather do at Fox. However, still undecided if my stamina will sereve me for the longer hike. :P

I found this. Don't know if it helps.

http://www.foxguides.co.nz/faq.asp#2

"What is the difference between Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier?

Fox Glacier township is the more 'laid back' of the twin Glacier Country townships, and people often comment on having chosen Fox Glacier for it's relaxed atmosphere.
Fox Glacier is approximately 3 km longer than Franz Josef and a major difference is the way in which the ice is accessed. Both glaciers take about an hour to walk up onto. In Fox Glacier access is along the river valley floor and then through a secret track through a rainforest up the side of the glacier. In Franz Josef, the walk is straight along the river valley floor and then up the terminal face (front) of the glacier."

I think I will choose Fox for our upcoming trip. ((R))