SOUTH WESTLAND GLACIERS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26119, 23 May 1950, Page 6

SOUTH WESTLAND GLACIERS

EFFECT OF DRY SEASONS From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH, May 22. The exceptionally dry seasons during the last two years have had a marked effect on the South Westland glaciers. This is also reflected in the low depths in various mountain rivers and small streams throughout the province. Small streams*are almost dried up, and mountain guides and alpine climbers report almost no snow on the tops. One party of three Otago University students made a trip from the Franz Josef glacier to the Alma hut last week for ski-ing, but there was insufficient snow in the basin. The constantly receding terminal face of the Franz Josef glacier is also supporting evidence of the lessening snowfall in the upper regions. Some years ago there was a large lake at the face of the glacier, but now there are several acres of gravel and sand flats. Not long ago the glacier was moving at a rate of from two to there feet a day at the terminal face, but now it is only moving inches. A large theatre of ice of varying hues overhangs the main outlet stream on the right side of the terminal face. Heavy crashes of the overhanging pinnacles resound throughout the Waiho Gorge valley from time to time.