Despite the rainy forecast and howling winds overnight, today started out as beautiful as ever. The sky shone blue so we decided to take a morning hike to Tasman Lake, which abuts Tasman Glacier, New Zealand's longest. There are four trails that provide different vantage points; the first gave us a birds' eye view as we read about the history of the glacier, taking particular note of its rapid retreat. From the 1990s it's retreated about 180 meters per year, with recently acceleration to between 477 and 822 meters each year. It's incredible to stand in the presence of such things and consider those who deny its cause... but we digress.
The second and third trails got us closer to the lake, and the floating pieces of iceberg came into clearer view. Blair noticed a rocky path leading down to the lake itself, which we (safely) descended and are so thankful that we did. There sitting on the boulders, we looked up at the mountains surrounding us, listening to the quiet river run as we let cold glacier water run through our fingers. It was a magical moment that we won't soon forget, and if it wasn't for a bit of weather rolling through, we would have sat there for hours. Alas, we had to make our way back.
Tasman Glacier Lake, Mount Cook Village, New Zealand
While most activities in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park are outdoors, there are a few sources of indoor entertainment - namely, the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, a museum that highlights the achievements of the greatest New Zealand climber and first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Katie was delighted to visit, having taken a keen interest in mountaineering since reading John Krakauer's novel, Into Thin Air (GREAT read). The museum did not disappoint, as we sat through a triple-header of documentaries about Hillary, Aoraki/Mount Cook history, and the adrenaline-inducing Mountaineering Rescues, which follows the Search and Rescue crew as it responds to emergency calls. 3 hours later, we emerged inspired and hungry for a tasty dinner at nearby Old Mountaineers' Cafe, followed by a sprint through downpours to our motel for the evening.
It will be quite difficult to top our experience in Aoraki/Mount Cook. Between the sleepy mountain town, the towering cliffs and mountains in every direction, and the peace that's come from walking these trails, it has quickly become one of our favorite places in the world, and we hope to someday return. Up next, the Adventure Capital of the World - Queenstown!