[Photos taken 14 July 2023, posted online 20 April 2024. Spring is in the air!]
It turns out that I’m a sheep when it comes to outdoor activities. I suck at making them happen, but will happily show up when someone tells me to be somewhere, and do the thing.
Thus it was that I was invited to join what turned out to be a 10-lady group on a weekend trip to Thórsmörk (Þórs-mörk, the area/forest of Þór/Thor), which is a beautiful area in the south of Iceland, only accessible by large all-wheel-drive vehicles, as the rivers leading there change too fast for bridging to make sense.
Friday 14 July 2023
Photo from 5 in the afternoon, of me standing in front of Mýrdalsjökull (Swamp-valley-glacier), home of Katla, the volcano, which is due for a burp.
We’d booked a spot on the noon bus leaving from Hvolsvöllur town, which is a 90 minute drive from the capital area. I therefore had time for morning-sanity-in-a-cup.
Departing the capital area shortly after 10 in the morning. I hitched a ride with Agnes.
Agnes in front of the truck/bus that would transport us into Þórsmörk. All the luggage was in the main cabin, as the transport area under the bus was not waterproof. It gives you an idea of how deep the rivers are/can be.
Approaching the left turn that would lead us inland.
It was such a lovely day that the horses were actually lying down, and napping. This rarely happens.
Left turn accomplished, passing Seljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk behind.
Passing the first of the rivers, they didn’t really have a lot of water in them.
… and crossing another stream/river.
Glimpsing Eyjafjallajökull, which seems to be both the name of the glacier and the volcano it is topping.
Crossing a slightly angrier river, this is glacial run-off.
A glacier, a cracked rock-side, and a bus for scale.
More landscapes…
Passing a canyon…
Looking up towards Mýrdalsjökull. A movable footbridge visible. There are three campsites/bases in that area, we were staying in Básar, which is up on the right on the image. The footbridge leads to Langidalur and further on to Húsadalur.
Dragging our luggage from the bus-stop to the main cabin. We were too lazy to camp. The cabin also gave us access to the kitchen/mess hall.
Such a beautiful area and such a beautiful day!
The group in front of our cabin.
We found our allotted mattresses, got our stuff sorted, found some snacks, and put on hiking clothes.
Proof I was there!
By 3:30 pm we were ready to go hiking along the valley floor towards the bigger glacier (Mýrdalsjökull), the home of Katla (the volcano).
The route we walked, towards and away from the glacier according to Strava. It was about 7 km in total, and towards Tungur, I think.
A flag to remind us where we were.
Off we went. With 10 people in one group, the walking speeds varied widely, especially as some were more photo-prone than others, but we found a good balance.
It’s key for the fast walkers to stop once in a while to let us stragglers catch up!
Landscape-shapes everywhere!
Walkers.
Crossing a stream.
The landscape is shaped in large part by water.
Yours truly with Mýrdalsjökull in the background. Such colorful rocks.
Dramatic landscapes be dramatic.
Yet another rock formation.
All kinds of crazy rock-stuff.
Where there is no vegetation, there’s been water “recently”. This area easily floods.
It was slow going because we stopped every 5 minutes to take photos…
A weird mountain-clothes-peg.
Not a great area during earthquakes.
Erosion scars.
Approaching the glacier even more.
At the end of the the road. There was no crossing this river except by crossing the valley and finding a footbridge. It was a good spot to sit down and munch on something.
The river closing off the path forward.
But it was pretty, so all was forgiven. We’d also been walking for about two hours, and we needed to get back to have dinner.
Oh look, another rock formation!
The way back.
A moveable-footbridge, buried into the stones. This one at one point crossed the river we were stopped by.
Heading back, we took fewer photos.
It was still silly-pretty.
Back at the stream-crossing.
Fauna and feet.
Civilization!
There’s a restaurant!
Post-hike shots!
Nine lovely ladies!
It rained in the evening, bringing a lovely smell of the vegetation.
