We booked with Heilo Adventura, who seem to have some sort of exclusivity deal on the glacier. Before booking you have a choice of 3 different options, a boat ride, or Mini-Trekking which is the boat ride plus a 1.5hr trek on the ice, and finally Big Ice which is the same as the former but with a 7hr trek. We chose the Mini-Trekking and to be honest I'm very glad we didn't do Big Ice, it may sound terribly obvious but the temperature out on the ice is pretty staggering (from what we're used to) and I suspect very similar to the temperature back in the UK (*snigger*), more so, the wind there is enough to knock you off your feet, though in the glacier you're sheltered somewhat.
The glacier itself is massive, and no doubt extremely difficult to appreciate when looking at the pictures (which have already been uploaded), I also failed to realise before hand that there's many points of interest on the surface of the ice itself, waterfalls, lagoons, caves, crevasses, holes to the very bottom, cliffs and probably a lot of things we didn't get to see aswell. Other beauty lies in the ice itself, which, when it cracks and exposes itself renders it's deep blue hue to you, very cool indeed. Visually as I've tried to explain it's pretty fantastic, but your ears are also constantly treated to a very deep audible shotgun like noise as the glacier moans beneath you, expecialy apparent when a few tonnes of ice throws itself into the lake at it's face (which is solely created by meltwater).
Suffice to say then that we both had a great day out on Perito Moreno glacier, and that we'd thoroughly recommend doing it. The glacier is around 30,000 years old, and is stable - the Patagonian ice cap is making enough fresh snow for new ice to be formed, at a rate which matches it's movement forward - and so should be here for a few years to come!
Photos are up in their usual place, we're hoping they don't receive a frosty reception!
Finally, we'd like to wish our avid readers, Lewis Bond, Ricky Child and Pru Engel a very happy (and now belated) birthday... we hope you all had a great day!
5 comments:
Wow, the thickness of the ice looks almost like Kirkby this mornin! Glaciers have always fasinated me, I went to see the Grossglockner glacier in Austria when I was 18. I'm sure it was amazing too, if only I had dared open my eyes! Glad you're getting to see everything you planned, Take care xXx
Hi both. Great pictures. I assume the guy who was astride the 'chasm' has been 'sectioned'? Argentina seems to offer everything that South America has in microcosm; an amazing place by the looks of it. It's great that there is a glacier that's not retreating, a small glimmer of hope for us all perhaps. Yet another place you'll never forget. Our ice looks nothing like as grand. Take care. Dad
Hi both
The first thing I thought when seeing the photos was were was your hat Miranda? The second was how amazing it all looks. As you rightly say, it cannot be fully appreciated in a photo but wonderful that you have seen the Glacier first hand. Still got snow hear but as Mark says, not quite up to the standards that you are seeing. Take care, lots of love Mum & Dad
Sorry both just read back my blog, didn't check before sending excuse spelling mistakes
hello both good to hear you are both o.k, the ice looks great but it must be cold as james has gloves on and his hood up!!! I hope your 'south face' is doing its job miranda and keeping the cold out and the warm in. As you have heard we have had alittle snow here and now we are fogged in, the joys of a english winter you picked the best time to be away. Well stay safe and hope to speak soon love ju and al xxx
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