Long Stóri-Bolli Hike & Haircuts

2021-11-20Us Standard

[Photos taken 20 – 26 November 2021, posted online 05 March 2022. All five of us have now had Covid-19 and are in varying states of recovery. All covid regulations in Iceland have been struck down. Oh, and there’s now a totally unnecessary war going on a little too close to us for comfort.]

My hiking group assembled a short distance away from the capital area to hike up to The Big Cup (Stóri-Bolli). The hike was a little weird because a road closure meant we had to begin walking on the road for 4 km before stepping off into the wilderness. The weather was cold but gorgeous, and it was a great day overall!

Then life kept chugging onwards, with the added wrinkle that I was preparing for a week-long trip to Tenerife with two friends (I basically invited myself to join them, as I was in desperate need to leave our rock in the ocean for a different rock in the ocean!). The preparations mostly entailed pre-yule haircuts, and scouting for yule-presents, along with buying a few items of clothing. (55-ish images total)

Saturday 20 November 2021

Gathering on a parking lot at 8:40 am before heading off.
15 minutes later, we were wondering which hill was which, I think the larger one is Helgafell.
Trundling along the now-closed road (to protect the ground water). Hiking shoes and straight roads aren’t a great mix.
By 9:40 am we finally arrived at the turn-off point, and started hiking towards the ridge. I think the tallest peak there on the right side was our goal.
Lots of lava-ropes, and a cairn in the distance.
10 am sky was pretty!
10:20 am stoppage to refuel.
These bumps are called “cups”, and there are three main ones. I think we went up a little right of center.
Agnes modeling with the moon.
By 11 am we were encountering more snow.
More lava-ropes.
Yours truly.
Heading upwards.
The show had a frozen shell on top. Our guide plonked down steps for us, but soon it was time to put studs on.
We stopped to put the crampons on, and were overtaken by a couple that were speeding up the hill. We also noticed that the sun was showing the “cups” nicely on the ground below.
Once up the hill, we were on flat land for a bit.
A strangely snowless gully. The hill up ahead was our goal.
A nice place for sledding?
Thankfully, the snow-ice mostly held as we walked on top of it.
Beginning the last ascent.
Getting a lesson on the limitations of the mid-range crampons. They should not be used on steep slopes, as they can fall off shoes, causing bad accidents.
Trying to remember to look around!
In line, slowly making our way up.
Gorgeous!
Looking down to where we came from.
The peak in sight!
We made it to the top at 1 pm!
The capital area off in the distance.
Ahhhh, sun!
Then it was time to skedaddle down again!
All in line!
At 1:30 pm we sat down again to refuel and enjoy the sun for a bit.
Passing through the weirdly snowless gully again.
The cuppy-shadows were gone by the time we got back to the second descent.
With the sun hiding, it got a lot colder, thank goodness for wooly buffs.
By 2:50 pm we’d mostly made it down below the snowline. The lava-field has lots of surprises so it’s good to keep your eyes open!
Hey, we were up there earlier! So weird!
By 3:30 pm we were back on the road, and the trudge to the cars began. At this point my old ankle breakage started reminding me that all was not fantastic, and I ended up trailing the main group by a bit.
Pretty mounts.
Not quite managing to keep up with the speed-walkers in my clunky hiking boots.
An angry looking lava field, plus the moon.
By 4:30 pm we finally made it back to the parking lot, and it was a happy but tired group that said goodbye, and thanked everybody for a highly enjoyable day!
The route and elevation, it came out to about 17 km total!

Sunday 21 November 2021

The days had begun getting shorter, so it was time to put up the outside yule-lights.
I’m pretty pleased with these lights, they’re LEDs and have lasted for a few years now, in contrast to the old incandescent lights that always needed expensive replacements every year.

Wednesday 24 November 2021

Amazing 10 am skies, as I exited the physical therapist office. Booster shots were now being offered in the big sports hall next door, and the ambulance was parked outside for extra safety.
Emma got a haircut, and could now see.

Thursday 25 November 2021

Haircuts happen in lumps, here’s me with newly shorn hair.
Bjarki with a tidy-looking head of hair!

Friday 26 November 2021

I panicked slightly about not having photos of the kiddos in November, so the big camera came out to play.
Handstand!
Back-carry!
Right side up.
By Bjarki’s desk.
So posed! With that I went and packed for my trip to Tenerife the following day!!