Foot of glacier - and foot of rain

Great photos from the viewing area near the foot of the glacier which 200 years earlier extended much further down the mountain. Cynics say glaciers retreat because they don’t like the tourists but whatever the reason it all makes for stunning surrounds.

Reverting to the rain which stopped play on Thursday and lasted for around 18 hours in all I now know it was the worst locals had experienced for years. Some of downpours were sustained and torrential so it’s no surprise to learn the river encroached into town more than most can recall.

Over a 48 hour period the local weather station on nearby Mount Cook logged 313 millimetres of rain which I think works out at about a foot. It is about as much as Los Angeles would get in a year and about half of what London would expect - also in a year - but only around seven percent of the Mount Cook area’s annual downpour. Dave