Because of the exceptionally hot summer there was no snow on the lower reaches of the Glacier.  The ice was gray as it was covered in a layer of grit and lose rock that falls from the cliffs above and slowly flows with the ice.  When 3GP passed this way in 1987 this part of the Glacier was covered in deep snow and the Scouts were able to practice ice axe work as soon as stepping into the ice.

Despite the fact that we were standing on a huge lump of ice it was still warm.

We picked our way across the glacier, carefully avoiding any large cracks and jumping across icy melt water streams.

The picture below depicts three young adults all of whom still have links to the group 17 years later, two as leaders and two as parents of members.  

 Once safely across the glacier we climbed to the top of a lateral moraine and rest at a very bleak path junction.  From here we could get a good view of the central part of the Glacier.