Franz Josef Glacier

The Franz Josef Glacier is remarkable in its size, steepness, speed, and location. The ‘neve’ (where the ice is created), or upper glacier, is four miles in diameter. Currently, the Franz Josef Glacier extends down the valley about four miles, but it changes all the time. One hundred years ago, the glacier extended more than five miles down the valley.

When we took this picture (above), we were about a mile and a half from the glacier. In 1910, we would have been on its edge. In 1750, the glacier extended another two miles or so down the valley and about 300 feet up the sides. However, the Franz Josef has not only been retreating. Our guide told us that in 1980, the glacier was about one mile shorter than it is today, and it has mostly been advancing since then. It is all part of the glacier life cycle. Below is a shot of us right at the glacier edge.The glacier is really fast (by glacial standards), mostly because it is so steep. The Franz Josef is the fastest and steepest guided glacier in the world. It can move up to three feet a day at the base and 25 feet per day in the steepest stretches. The Franz Josef Glacier is also unique in that it descends right into the rainforest. It was really crazy to be flanked by jungle while walking up a huge block of ice.

We got to hike on the surface of the glacier, but we also spent a lot of time navigating its caves and crevasses.

Henry, our guide, was great. Here he is removing an icefall hazard from our path.

What makes the glacier especially beautiful is its blue tint (this is hard to see in the photos so you will just have to believe us). This tint is the result of the Rayleigh effect, where air bubbles and particles deep in the ice reflect light in different directions. Blue-violet light has a short wavelength and therefore is refracted first.

Below is a picture of the warnings right at the glacial edge, this is why you have to have a guide to get anywhere near it.