The Saga Continues

Day 3

Elly and Arnsteinn woke bright and early on the morning of Day 3, mostly because they had gone to bed at like 7:00 the night before.  They made breakfast and packed up the tent, ready to begin another day of adventures over Fimmvorduhals! 

This hike is very popular in Iceland.  It starts in Skogar (where we camped) and proceeds up and over the 2010 eruption sights (unfortunately there is not currently any lava to be found).  The hike meanders through the pass of two glaciers, and ends about 20km later in þorsmork.  The hike is best attempted in late July – August, however we were there in late May…. So long story short we made it just into the snowfields up top before deciding it made sense to turn around.  Here are some pictures from the hike!

Our tent (far right) and the trail leading up to Fimmvorduhals

Skogarfoss waterfall

A view from the top of the waterfall

The Skogara river

So many waterfalls on this hike!

We are a little crazy.... and wet.

Enjoying the beautiful (if brief) break in the clouds!

Wearing all of my layers while walking UP.... Not a good sign.

Aaaaaaaaannnnnnd.  We have snow.

About at the turn around point.

"My feet are wet.... And I am SO excited to be here!"

Where there is snow I am home :)

While beautiful, the rain/snow/sleet mixture falling from the sky and the wind whipping through the canyon made the hike a tad bit less enjoyable.  As Elly and Arnsteinn hiked down they were quickly approaching “Type 2 Fun” – the type of fun that is rather unpleasant but is “fun” once you are done.  They were about at 1.6 when the thunder of the Skogarfass waterfall could be heard, signaling a very near end of the hike. 

Post hike, they attempted to wring water out of their clothes and get warm.  They had heard rumors of a natural hot spring a few kilometers down the road, where a concrete pool had been constructed to catch the geothermal water.  Deciding that a hot soak sounded REALLY NICE right about then, they decided to give it a shot!  The hot spring required a short hike to get to, so they joined the line of other tourists seeking some relaxation in nature.  This is what they found:

On the hike to the hot springs

A beautiful example of the basalt entablature and colonnade
(the geologist in me is pleased)

The hot spring pool!

She found the hot water source

A view up the valley from the hot springs

On the hike back up

Once all warmed up and dried off, Elly and Arnsteinn loaded up the beep-beep car to drive to Skaftafell.  This would be their home base for the next couple days as they adventured around the area.  On the drive they stopped to explore Dyrholaey, a giant sea arch (but only found the little version).  Much more entertaining was watching the tourists get caught in the shore break as the waves plummeted onto the beach.

Apparently the real sea arch is around the bend.
But we thought this one was cool!

Some serious wave action.

Some serious hair action.

The church in Vik, a town we drove through

Serious business.

This is what most of the drive looked like...

A beautiful view of Hvannadalshnukur, Iceland's highest peak (2119m)