A glacier is a permanent mass of snow and ice, it is fed with fresh snow at the top, and flows downhill.
From the top of the Aiguille de Midi, Chamonix-Mont Blanc ( you can see the glacier running down the middle)
Glacier Des Bossons in Summer (which runs Mont Blanc)
Glaciers contain crevasses, tears within the mass of snow and ice which are caused by the tension created by the terrain on which a glacier flows.
Some crevasses on the Vallee Blanche
Falling down these babies are not fun......if you have ever watched the movie 'Touching the Void' you will know that they are deep, dark, and soundless.
NO Buddha does not live down a crevasse and NO meditating in one is not good for Zen.
During the last two winters I have spent in Chamonix, I have skied on several different glaciers- there are so many to choose from, it is hard not to be tempted to venture up high onto the powdery goodness that lays atop of that frozen ice.
I HAVE LEARNT ONE OR TWO THINGS
DON'T TAKE YOUR SKIS OFF WHILE ON A GLACIER
Ski with someone who knows the terrain, or can read the terrain well........
NONETHELESS: It was only in Feb this year that I put my foot down and decided to learn more about them.
Miles Bright, an English mountain guide who lives and works in the Chamonix valley was happy to us 8 youngsters out on a day of glacier spotting, crevasse-rescuing and general powder skiing at the top of Grands Montets.
Not to mention the fact it was some crazy temperature close to -20 celsius.
We learnt all about lowering ourselves into crevasses (generally not advisable) and then pulling ourselves back out (a great skill to have- I know Napoleon Dynamite would agree with me).
I am in a crevasse, waiting to be rescued....it was pretty fun!
The crevasse: it is not so deep and scary but we are standing on snowbridges that cover the full extent of the crevasse.
Thanks Miles for you words of wisdom, I can now actually enjoy the powder turns I have a on a glacier. :D
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