Inspiration from Abroad: Aerial Adventure

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Somewhere Over the Rainbow...

Fire roaring above our heads as our feet slowly lift off the ground, my body is suddenly filled with a rush of excitement & anticipation only to be balanced by an overwhelming sense of calming relaxation. Lost in the dream that is reality, I can feel the edge of a wicker basket under my hands as I lean (ever so slightly) over the side and watch as we float away. Blades of grass disappearing into a solid green mass, we leave life on the ground, letting it shrink into the perfect screen setting for a computer game. Freeway sound drifting away below us, we find ourselves under the warmth of a roaring fire without even the sound of the wind, watching the world thrive below us, pure bliss.

There is no feeling in the world like it! Like what? Like a hot air balloon ride!

Blindfolded for an hour long car journey, I was confused to find myself in an empty parking lot next to an empty field at half past 6 in the morning. It wasn't until I saw a suburban and trailer pull up and a massive wicker basket get pulled out the back that I realized what it was we were going to be doing. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of being able to float off into a sparkling blue diamond sky and dance on the clouds. Although growing up I learned that there was no way to do a pirouette on those fluffy white blobs in the sky, the mystery and magic of a hot air balloon has always intrigued me, and seeing that basket appear and those first massive bursts of fire rocket into the air, I might as well have been dancing on the clouds.

Floating over the suburbs of Austin, past the cows and bison in the fields, we went off towards Taylor, Texas. It could not have been a more peaceful and relaxing experience and though my heart felt as if it could race out of my chest, it was not from anxiety but excitement! Despite the early morning chill in the air, the fire above us kept us warm, and provided a calming sense of confidence with its roar. Floating along, it was simply breathtaking watching the Austin skyline disappear off in to the distance as we traveled with the wind from Round Rock to Taylor, making the hour in the air go by all too fast. Braced for a landing that was much harder than I had anticipated, I was still so elated from the journey that I barely felt the basket smash against the ground before tipping quickly onto its side and getting dragged across a field. Clambering out of that basket my mind and heart were still high in the air and I felt as though I were still lost in a dream.

Traveling with "Lighter-Than-Airlines," Austin Aeronauts, Inc. is hands down the best way to experience the sky. Our pilot David Smuck was an incredibly kind, intelligent, and friendly man who inspired confidence in his passengers with his wealth of hot air balloon knowledge and experience. Letting the wind take us up up & away, he controlled out elevation to take us on a stunning 12 mile long aerial adventure. After a surprisingly pleasant & exhilarating landing we were collected and taken back to where we first set off for champagne, croissants, and an initiation ceremony to the hot air balloon community. The whole experience was thought out to the final detail resulting in a day I will never forget. Simply put, flying in a hot air balloon with Austin Aeronauts is without a doubt the most amazing experience I have ever had!

Starting to inflate the balloon with a fan

Final prep stage before full thrusters!

Holding the balloon open as it inflates

Fire roaring in final prep for lift off.

Balloon upright and ready to go!

Sunrise from the balloon

Hot Air Balloon reflection in a creek below

Just after landing... (That is how the balloon landed!)

Friday, September 5, 2014

Walking on Ice

Standing in the middle of a massive glacier watching your helicopter rise up into the air before disappearing down the side of the mountain, life becomes serenely surreal as you listen to the ice below your feet groan in response to its ever changing facade. Alone on a glacier with a guide and a group of 5 other explorers we were left with a pair of crampons each and time enough to trek across the glacier in search of the architectural wonders of our magical ice palace.

Luckily for us we were blessed with not only a small group for our heli-hike but hands down the most fantastic guide! Pete Ross, our fearless guide who paved the way for our adventure, was incredibly knowledgeable about the glacier, teaching us about the enormous slab of ice while weaving the ancient legend of the glaciers deep into our hearts.

Stomping around on the ice, making sure to dig our crampons in as deeply as possible, we trekked towards the edge of a glacial waterfall, slid through an ice cave and were even able to taste the cold dry glacier water forming pools both deep and shallow across the surface of the glacier.

Looking back at the photographs it almost doesn't feel real. Taking a scenic helicopter ride up the side of a glacier in order to hike across the ice and find the latest formations all while listening to the ice groaning beneath us. I still can not believe this wasn't a dream!

The Franz Josef Glacier sits in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the Western coast of New Zealand's South Island and is an absolute must on any nature-loving-adventure-seeker's bucket list. Young or old, male or female, kiwi local or tourist, this is an absolute must while in New Zealand. The Heli Hike was hands down the best experience I have ever had while on my travels and it has given me memories I will cherish forever.

Interested in Your Own Franz Josef Adventure?

The glacier is quickly disappearing and will likely be nothing more than a legend in 50 odd years, so do not delay! Make your plans and head out there before it is too late!

Logistics: Why not take a road trip? There are buses and tour groups you can book with to get down there from any of the large cities in the South Island but renting a car and driving there truly is a fabulous way to go! That way you are on your time and can enjoy the amazing drive into and out of Franz.

Accommodation: Franz Josef is definitely a tourist town so there is no shortage of places to stay, from hostels to hotels you can take you pick but my personal suggestion would be the Scenic Hotel. Not only did we have a stunning view, but I had the best nights sleep of the whole journey. The bed was like sleeping on a cloud and even the complimentary shampoo, conditioner, and soap left you feeling cleaner than ever before.

Exploration: There are a few different options for experiencing the glacier but my recommendation is without a doubt the Heli Hike with the Franz Josef Glacier Guides. The scenic tour followed by the two hour hike is enough to satisfy without overwhelming anyone. Flying half way up the glacier and hiking across it while learning the history behind it is fascinating and truly a once in a lifetime experience. While other helicopter tours will take you up for a snow landing, this one allows you to really experience the glacier in all of her glory!

Wanting to explore the world of the Kiwi's for yourself? Read about the rest of my adventures in New Zealand to learn from my experiences and get some great tips!