After rising from our second night camping... (yep, hips even more bruised)... we headed to the information center to figure out if we were snowmobiling, ice climbing or all of the above. After we had that all figured out... we were off to the official camp grounds where we bought ourselves a shower! It was a little on the 'not so clean side', but the shower, albeit quick, still felt nice.
We split off from Diego for a bit... he was heading back to the Glacial Lagoon as he wanted to make it all the way to the glacier (where we didn't make it yesterday) to try to get some good Drone footage of some ice caps breaking off. We would meet back up after our days was over.
There is never a drive longer than 2 minutes you can take without feeling like pulling out the camera... Just a couple before we reach our destination though....
Once we find where we are catching our super Jeep to start our tour, we kind of felt like we were in the wrong place. There were others there, but no one looked like they were dressed for snowmobiling. Connie and I had our snow pants and jackets and everyone else was in jeans and a sweatshirt. It was then we read the info on the tour.... they provide you with a jump suit and boots. Ha... leave it to us! Anyway... a Super Jeep picked us up to bring us part way up the glacier to where we would continue on with a sled. I ended up riding shot gun in this super large jeep. Fun right? But also a little nerve wracking! These road are NOT wide and they are very windy getting up the mountain. The views were incredible, but I also held my breath a few times when I could no longer see the road and I thought we were driving off the edge. I kept telling myself... he drives this everyday... he knows what he's doing... just enjoy the view!
At one point the driver stops to show us a Canyon. A scene from Superman was shot here. He leaned over so I could attempt a photo. I purposely didn't crop to show my real view...
It would have been even more amazing to see from the other side. We were told that the scene that was shot here took a week to film and that it shows for about 6 seconds in the movie! Makes me want to watch it to see if I recognize it!
As we get higher and higher.... you can see the Ocean!
And the windy road we drove to get where we were...
And then all of a sudden.... there is the glacier...
Once we get to the "house" as our driver called it... we were suited up with helmets, boots and a snow suit. We felt like um-pa lumpas a bit... but it was part of the experience!
And we are ready to go.... Connie is taking the first leg driving!
Pretty amazing views....
So... What did you do today? Well, I'm glad you asked. I was
On Top of the World. (Yes... The chorus of Imagine Dragons "On Top of the World" is playing in the background....)
Connie and I were riding a snowmobile on top of the largest glacier in Europe and the 3rd largest in the world, behind Greenland and Antarctica. Really? Even as I type it out and attach the photos... it's hard to believe we really did this. It took my breath away. We were up there where for as far as you could see.... was nothing but snow. I almost think these pictures are silly because, well... it's just snow... and snow... and more snow...
Honestly.... how cool!!
After awhile.... we stopped to take it in and take a few photos....
Our guide gave us some statistics...
Over 8,000 square kilometers.... 140 east to west.... More than 50 meters of snow.
He also told us how lucky we were with the weather. We have amazing blue skies!! It was calm and beautiful! He said most days, you can't see the person standing next to you because you're literally in the clouds. How blessed are we!?
We drove a little further and then time for another stop.... a and few more photos...
And... in honor of my dad... and just like we did on top of Cotopaxi in Ecuador.... we had to make a couple SNOW ANGELS.
Dad... you would have loved this. I felt being up there brought me closer to you.
After the drive down.... we had to stop in for a beer at "the house". One of the other tidbits our guide told us while we were on top of the glacier was that this beer, named after the glacier, is brewed locally using water from the glacier. It was a little hoppier than I typically drink but more smooth than your typical hoppy beer. It was delicious.
Outside to finish the beers while enjoying the view....
What a fantastic day. The weather was great! We never even put on our gloves! We could see forever and just truly felt blessed. There have been so many moments that have taken our breath away and that words can't describe. This is one that is just added to our list. Connie and I both talked about how if anyone doesn't believe in a higher power.... would have to after seeing this beautiful country. I can't remember the last time I felt so moved.... like my soul has been touched. And we still have a few more days... I'm not even sure I can handle anymore!
Ok... so we told Diego we would meet him back at the Glacier Lagoon at 7pm. Back on the road....
When we first say Diego's truck... we snuck up on him to scare him through the window. I'm sure to anyone watching we probably looked ridiculous! He wasn't in there. He just had his jacket hanging over the drivers seat so it "appeared" as if he was sitting in it! Haha! Where is candid camera when you need it?
We were a little early anyway, so Connie and I walked around a bit. Then we got out and took some more photos. It's not that we didn't take enough yesterday.... but it is just really hard to be there and NOT take pictures. It was much warmer today and everything looked different. All the ice caps were a bit smaller. The sun was getting lower. It was magical. Magical needs a camera. However, it's amazing how disappointed I got in the photos. Although they look amazing... it does no justice to seeing it in person.
Because I took so many more photos... I played with my settings more and also got more creative in Lightroom....
After all our playing... a lot of time has passed and Diego is no where to be found. We decided to eat and then start hiking to find him. We were certain he could hold his own, but because it was about 8:30... and hour and a half after we said we would meet... we just wanted to make sure all was well. I told Connie that as soon as we got over the first bit hill, I had a feeling we would see him. Sure enough... we got over it and there he was. He was walking slow. You could tell he was beat. He said the walk took him about 3 hours longer than he had anticipated. But... he made it that far.... we were both just happy he didn't turn around just to meet us in time.
It was off to our next "campground". We had a couple hour drive to get to the area we wanted to be to make the next morning more productive for our 10-hour hike! I drove Diego part of the way so he could rest.
Night 3 of camping.... always ending the night with a "Viking" beer or two..... Life is good.
