Volcano Eruption Expedition
March 22. 2010
The volcano Eyjafjallajokull has just begun to erupt. Early next morning, we are heading for an expedition to see it. Looking towards the mountain it looks like we can see two eruption clouds and by the color of the sky we can see that ash is already 2 km up.
The plan is to drive to Thorsmork and hike from there.
We start out seven people in two trucks. Three of them are scientists.
Just as we are starting out on the trail, Einar gets a call from a TV crew that wants to join us.
Shortly thereafter, Thora Arnorsdottir assistance editor from the "Kastljós" magazine-show and a camera man jump in the trucks.
The trail to Thorsmork is extra rough after the treatment it gets by the winter ice and spring floods.
We park the 4x4s at Strakagil in Basar and get ready for the long hike up to see the eruption.
The landscape is indescribable and the view is spectacular as we quickly gain height.
This is a popular summer hiking path and the winding trail is clearly marked by previous walkers.
Soon we are up to snow level and can also see the eruption cloud.
Of course there are some nice photo opportunities.
Still higher and we are entering winter.
The camera man is wearing sneakers which are dangerously slippery in these conditions. Carrying a heavy (10 kg) camera doesn't make it easier.
After a while we get up to Morinsheidi and naturally think that we are seeing the eruption.
But as Sigurlaug explains in a TV interview with Thora this is only the lava melting the snow and ice.
As we get to the edge of the canyon it is clearly the 1200°C lava flow fighting the freezing snow.
To get further ahead we must cross Heljarkambur (Hell's ridge) with the lava flowing to our left and another similar canyon to the right.
The tricky part is getting past the cliffs.
Sigurlaug has the best footwear - contact straps. With caution and two ice-axes we manage to carve out a path and get up.
After that we head up a steep snow slope and the wind is starting to blow pretty hard.
Close to the top we find ourselves in the worst weather I have ever been in. With hurricane level wind speed. The wind also carries volcanic ash that makes the situation even worse. The phrase "hell of a weather" comes to mind!
No way to stand - no way to even crawl - our only option is to lay down and wait for the wind to slow down and then turn back.
Even though we know we are only a few hundred meters away from the eruption we can't see it and can't really continue without loosing sight of each other.
After only a few minutes in this ordeal we are glad to get down again.
Just at that time we get a better glimpse of the lava flow through the steam. It is more like lava falls and we are the first people to see it.
There is a lot going on...
...and we spend a few minutes taking it all in.
On the way down we stop for a bite. Perhaps a little unusual place for a picnic!
When we get back to the start of the trail the police is parked in the middle of the road. The authorities have closed the road and banned all traffic.
Thanks to all for a memorable day. We'll get a better view of the eruption later...
Thrandur
4x4OffRoads.com
