We are in the Southern Alps and the glaciers and mountains are breathtaking. The Franz Josef and Fox glaciers are only about 200 meters above sea level, in the midst of a lush rainforest. While most glaciers worldwide have been retreating, these are advancing…about 30 meters of snow lands on the top each year. When it rains, it buckets down. We took a flight over, then strapped on crampons and stomped around the glaciers – it was pretty warm up there! Mt. Cook is the highest peak, named after Captain Cook.