Glacier Picture
Vatnajokull 8.-10. April 2004
Thursday
Starting out for a three day journey and the weather is a bit wet and foggy. Five trucks are heading to the South-East. Hopefully we get a chance to get on top of the highest mountain in Iceland, Oraefajokull (2119 m).
For this trip I serve as a co-driver for Sigurjon Sindrason on his Toyota Land Cruiser.
Driving over 400 km. (250 miles) takes the most part of the day.
But as we travel east the weather is getting better. This is a scenic road, so I
will let the pictures tell the story!
Hjorleifshofdi rises out of a dust-cloud.
Oraefajokull (Öræfajökull) looks promising. Unfortunately getting
there on 4x4's is not possible from this side. The highest point is in the
center of this picture (Hvannadalshnjukur)
Getting closer you can better appreciate the height of the
mountains.
The last chance for filling up the tanks is this small
gas-station, run by a farmer. All the trucks are diesel powered.
Skuli and his wife Magga, use the opportunity to grab a quick bite.
Finally off the highway! Here is the road that leads to the
ice-cap. The temperature is unusually high for the time of year 20°C.
The road is winding and steep.
Here we get a first close look at the glacier. This is just a small sampling or
a finger from the Skalafellsjokull glacier. Skalafellsjokull is one of many
glaciers that come out of Vatnajokull ice-cap.
The "hut" at Joklasel is really luxurious compared to other mountain huts. The
hut is situated just at the side of the glacier.
We plan on staying here for two nights.
In a clear day like this you can appreciate the grand view.
View to the glacier from Joklasel.
Joklasel has a business around leasing snowmobiles and
accommodation for tourists.
Due to the sunshine and the warm weather getting up the glacier is a bit
difficult. After airing-down it gets easier. Since this is such a great day we
don't mind.
Sigurjon Sindrason is enjoying the recently modified Land Cruiser. The 44 inch
tires are proving them selves for snow driving. For such a big SUV the 38 inch
Mudders where just to small!
Einar Johannesson with his wife Asdis had their daughter Rakel, skiing behind
them. She had been anticipating this for months.
Their Isuzu Trooper is sporting 38 inch tires.
Sigurjon driving on snow...
...can you imagine a more perfect day!
Since it is getting late, we drive only about 8 km. (5 m.). There we reach this
place where we have unbelievable view over Kalfafellsdalur valley, and the
southern parts of Vatnajokull.
Zooming in, it is easier to notice details in the landscape like the two rocks
in the right center. They are named "Karl" and "Kerling" ("Man" and "Woman").
At the other side of the valley, Stadarfjall rises high.
On the way back to the hut I try on the skis with less than admirable results. I also get to drive the LC while Sigurjon is skiing. The LC is very strong and easy to handle in the snow with the big tires, automatic transmission and locking differentials.
This is fun!
Getting lower fog creeps in and we use the GPS tracks to help find the correct way.
Tomorrow is going to be the BIG DAY, on the ice-cap. Hoping to get visibility, we plan on starting early.
