The 4x4 Rookie Trip
6th - 8th March 2004

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The Rookie Trip was originally planned in February but had been rescheduled to take place this weekend.

As is typical of Icelandic weather we got a sampling of all sorts. Saturday was cool and clear, Sunday was cloudy and then windy and rainy and then still more rain through Monday.

As it turned out this would be a trip to remember!

It even made the local news :)

Saturday

The group gathers at daybreak at the Hrauneyjar Icelandic High-land center. It looks like it is going to be a beautiful day!
 

Thorsteinn Bjornsson uses the first opportunity to air-down the 38 inch tires on his Nissan Patrol.
 

At this altitude the ground is covered with snow and the sun shines so the ice is glistening. When we get off the main road the track is fairly easy to travel with only an occasional small stream laid with thin ice causing a few of the 4x4's to get stuck.

Marteinn S. Sigurdsson owns this Toyota Hi-Lux Double Cab.
 

The kids use the opportunity to get out and enjoy the snow!
 

For the more serious stuck a winch comes in handy. The heavy Nissan Patrol needs help from Skuli's Land Rover who has a winch and Hjalmar's large Land Cruiser functions as an anchor.
 

4x4 off-roads!
 

At around noon we reach the Thjorsa river (Þjórsá) which is the longest river in Iceland. The ice is only about 10 cm (4 inches) thick and breaks from the weight of a few of the trucks. Among them was my F-150 and I needed a little help to get unstuck :)

The course is now made straight to the clubs hut just south of Hofsjokull. We are now driving off road on the snow. Since the conditions are good we increase the speed. Although the snow looks level it is sometimes soft and sometimes hard causing the trucks to take a few unplanned falls and jumps!
 

Thorgeir Egilsson and his wife Helena Sigurbergsdottir own this obviously well equipped Nissan Patrol. It has special DVD and Video Games screen for the kids in the rear!
 

Setur the clubs hut can only be reached by 4x4's. It is located just east of Kerlingarfjoll and south of Hofsjokull. We take a short stop there but since the visibility is good we soon head for Hofsjokull.

Hofsjokull

Hofsjokull is the third largest ice-cap in Iceland. As we get higher on Hofsjokull the visibility gets worse and we head back from an altitude of about 1400 m. Everybody uses the opportunity to flex the muscles of their trucks.
 

Jon Thor Gudmundsson in his Range Rover '86 modified for 38" tires and a Nissan 2.8 liter diesel engine.
 

Thrainn Aevarsson in his Suzuki SideKick '91 on 35" tires.
 

Sverrir Jonsson in his Isuzu Double Cab on 36" tires.

A night at Setur

Some keep on playing (like David Einarsson on this Nissan Terrano II) ...
 

... while some fix small problems with their trucks ...
 

... and others go and prepare the grill for the night's dinner, a traditional lamb steak. Einar controls it all!
 

After dinner the atmosphere get lighter and an evening singing has begun. Kristjan leads with his guitar playing.

NEXT

Saturday - Sunday - Monday

Thrandur Arnthorsson