Iceland Days 0 - 2
Day 0, Friday May 30 ~ Enroute
We leave home in the afternoon. Seven of us meet at Kennedy airport. Four others gather at Boston's Logan airport. Then an overnight flight to Iceland.
Day 1, Saturday May 31 ~ Hveragerdi and hot springs
We arrived at Keflavik Airport at 6:20 in the morning and were met by our Icelandic driver and guide, Ingi. In a gray drizzle we loaded up his "van" and left the airport by 7:30. Then we headed north toward Reykjavik with various stops to see a local harbor and pick up the trailer at Ingi's house. In Reykjavik we stopped at the headquarters of Icelandic Mountain Guides to pick up some provisions. Then on to our Guesthouse near Selfoss where we arrived at 10:30. After checking in we had time for a nap to recover from the overnight flight and jet lag.
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After a late lunch we drove to the village of Hveragerdi, famous for its geothermal activity and greenhouses. Just north of the village we hiked up the valley of Reykjadalur with many hot springs. We had a leisurely soak in a naturally warm pool before hiking back.
It was cool, gray, and drizzly and the rain stopped while we hiked. Overall we did about 6km in 4 hours. Dinner at the Guesthouse was buffet style. It appeared to be clearing in the evening.
Day 2, Sunday June 1 ~ Waterfalls, Glaciers and to Thorsmork
From the Hekla region we headed east towards highway 249 and the valley of Thorsmork. In the morning we made several stops at waterfalls including Slejalandfoss and a waterfall that was somewhat hidden up on a shoulder of a mountain.
Then we drove up a dirt track to a plateau for a view of another waterfall while we ate our lunch. After lunch we hiked cross country on the plateau, across a stream and on a ridge for several hours.
After a short drive we did a short walk at the foot of the Gigjokull glacier.
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We continued up the valley crossing innumerable creeks and rushing rivers with our four-wheel drive vehicle to the Husadalurhut mountain hut where we stayed for two nights. Dinner was boiled flounder prepared by Ingi. |
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Last updated: January 01, 2004