FOX GLACIER HELI HIKE

GLACIERS MELTING AWAY
The area of a glacier that retains snow year-round is called the accumulation zone, and as the ice compacts, it moves downhill to an elevation where more melting occurs on the surface and eventually the presence of ice is due solely to ice that has moved downhill rather than remaining from prior years. This area of the glacier that completely melts out is called the ablation zone. The dividing line between the accumulation zone and the ablation zone is the firn line.

BONNY AND I ON FEBRUARY 6TH

                                 TOOK A HELICOPTER UP TO FOX GLACIER ON THE
                                               WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND.

WE LANDED AT FOX GLACIER'S MELT OR ABLATION ZONE

THE SNOW WAS MELTING ALL AROUND US

HEADING UP THE GLACIER TOWARD THE FIRN LINE

                                                     CLIMBING THROUGH ICE CAVES