This sign seemed rather unnecessary to me. It wasn’t like you were going to miss a 60 m tall mass of ice.
Just like the Blue Whale, the glacier’s most defining characteristics are bigness and blueness. Possibly also coldness. This is the only shot I took that really conveys how large the thing is. Note the tiny people near the base.
We got fitted for crampons at the base, and then packed them in our bags and carried them with us out to the glacier. The crampons actually looked pretty cool and hardcore.
The safety harnesses were not similarly flattering.
It’s not quite Iguazu, but this was a pretty waterfall along the trail that led to the glacier.
Strapping on the crampons
There seems to be something against my stupid American sensibilities when it comes to going to south to hike a glacier in the set of places not contained in Antarctica.
It would probably be easier for me to go south to the Alps, if I wanted to hike a glacier, than to go north to the icy extremities of Sweden or Norway – even if Sweden is only a half-hour train ride from my house.
Also, Brendan, I notice that you demonstrate the unflattering appearance of the harnesses by showing a picture of them on someone other than yourself. Nice move.
The photos were fantastic. I bet they do not due justice to the power and beauty of such a unique environment.
beautiful
Enchanted forests… not just in Europe anymore.
But seriously, that looks like a pretty amazing time.
~Steve