June 20, 2023 - Andermatt - Rhone Glacier and Ice Tunnel

 Today, we got going at the crack of noon to visit the Eisgrotte, Rhone Gletscher, aka, Rhone Glacier and Ice Tunnel.  The drive in Sam and Miranda's rental car was only 15 miles and 30 minutes from our apartment in Andermatt.  Sooz and I had not heard of it but Miranda found out about it through Instagram. It was fun, and a bit chilly.

Sam did a great job driving there through several twisty, 180-degree turns.  The ice tunnel goes through a glacier and is at 7,600 feet.  We drove about 2 miles past Furka Pass to a parking lot where we had a picnic lunch in the parking lot after walking through the tunnel.  It's quite possible the tunnel and glacier will be gone in 20 years through global warming.

Sam and Miranda walking through the spooky Ice Tunnel

                            

Entrance to the tourist center and ice tunnel ticket counter - it was $9 per ticket

Sooz getting ready to take a shower in the glacier fed waterfall

The path down to the ice tunnel

Miranda, Sooz and Sam watching the Rhone Glacier move down the mountain

Rhone Glacier feeding into Glacier Lake

Our Florida folks confidently crossing some snow

The entrance to the ice tunnel covered by insulating foam to slow its melting

A close up of the ice inside the ice tunnel showing bubbles

Sooz and me trying to stay warm in a glacier.

Sooz crossing glacier polished stone coming back from the ice tunnel

Ice tunnel entrance

A road sign near Furka Pass

Translation of the road sign

Memorial sign for Sean Connery on the side of Furka Pass road where part of the movie Goldfinger was filmed

Near Furka Pass