272 | From Up Here :: Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand, 2012

My first ever helicopter ride lasted less than 10 minutes, and brought me to the top of the Granz Josef Glacier. It was my first time wearing crampons, first time on a glacier, and first time caving in an ice cave. Oh yeah, I also did some pushups on the ice because I lost a bet.

Before 2012, you can still hike all the way up to Franz Josef without a helicopter. Unfortunately, the ice has been melting so fast that hiking up is no longer an option. Global warming had caused it to retreat at an alarming rate, losing about 800m between 2008 and 2015. The phenomenon has been captured in this time lapse and it’s incredibly sad to watch.


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