Back to the Peninsula... / May 21, 2017 by Kevin Hatcher

A few weekends ago the weather report suggested that it would be amazing blue skies and warm. So we decided to go back up to Snæfellsnes peninsula for some camping, hiking, and adventures. We also had the added benefit of a friend visiting from France for the weekend, who had rented a camper van and was going up there too. Let the fun begin!

Saturday

Travelling up to the Peninsula with Snæfellsjökull glacier.

After driving for a few hours we reached the area that we were interested in exploring. We had investigated doing a hike up a mountain called Mt. Stapafell to get a good view of the surrounding area. We arrived and stopped at a lay by just below the Snæfellsjökull glacier. The ridge that we wanted to do was ahead of us and we could not find the start of a trail, so we decided to take it easy and explore the coast line between Port Arnarstapi and Hellnar.

This was only a short walk over a few kilometers but it was along an amazing lava field and the sea. It was quite an amazing contrast!

Coast line between Port Arnarstapi and Hellnar.

Hellnar Church with the Snæfellsjökull glacier in the background.

That guy took a picture of me and took great interest in my 35mm film camera from 1978!

So, after a nice walk we head off to find our friends and find somewhere to camp. This is quite easy in Iceland as there are a lot of campsites and there all super easy to use. So we stayed at Langaholt campsite and pitched the tent. (Queue time-lapse fun with surprise drive through!).

Langaholt camping

The beach and surroundings are beautiful around the campsite. Well worth a visit, but it is a bit rustic, with no showers and the bathrooms are just a shed. Loved it!

Sunday

After a quick breakfast and some planning we decided to go for a hike. Re-packed the car and drove to the approximate center of the peninsula to spend the day on a hill. What a great day! Sunshine, no clouds in the sky and no one there.

Once we had finished the hike Scherie mentioned a waterfall close by that we had not yet seen, and you could walk behind it! So back into the cars for a short drive to see the waterfall. WOW! What an amazing place.

Long exposure of the river Fossá. Click for a big version!

Well, as always, all good things must come to an end. We said are farewells and hit the road back to Reykjavik to start another week.

We will back to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula as it has so much to offer for so little travel time. But the next adventure awaits. We are off to the Westfjords of Iceland which is not on the normal tourist track of the well beaten route 1 circular. I can't wait!

Thanks,

Kev

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The gang at the top of the hike. Left to right. Aimee, Scherie, Me, Cedric

Try saying this after a few beers...Snæfellsnes Peninsula. / May 17, 2017 by Kevin Hatcher

It has been two weeks since my last post, as I have been very busy exploring the amazing landscapes of Iceland. Over the weekend of 5th May, friends and I traveled north from Reykjavik to explore the Snæfellsnes peninsula. The weather was AMAZING! Blue skies and sunshine. A great combination for a road trip adventure.

Driving up to the Snæfellsnes peninsula from Reykjavik.

It is about a two hour drive directly to our hostel at Grundarfjörður but we decided to stop on the way to find the Rauðamelsölkelda mineral spring. It is a short drive off the main road and down a dirt road, but well worth it.

Waterfall at Rauðamelsölkelda mineral spring.

Drinking from Rauðamelsölkelda mineral spring. Tasty.Photo by: Mike Guarino Photography. — Drinking from Rauðamelsölkelda mineral spring. Tasty.
Photo by: Mike Guarino Photography.

The spring is just to the right of the waterfall, and is like drinking fizz water. On the way out, or on the way in, you pass the Gerðuberg Cliffs. These cliffs are very prominent and distinct, and you can get right up close to them, even on top to get great views.

Sitting on the Gerðuberg Cliffs.Photo by: Mike Guarino Photography. — Sitting on the Gerðuberg Cliffs.
Photo by: Mike Guarino Photography.

We drove up and over the peninsula in the glorious sunshine and bright blue skies. It was beautiful and arrived at Grundarfjörður. It was so nice that we decided to hike the famous and most photographed mountain in Iceland. Kirkjufell mountain..

The mountain rises up from sea level and has no direct trail to the top. This trail is not for the faint-hearted and I would only ever attempt this when the weather is good and the conditions are dry. We got lost at one point and I ended up on a knife edge of a cliff looking directly at a seagull on its nest. Oops!

Kirkjufell mountain elevation profile.

There are three sets of ropes to climb over areas that are very steep, including the last rope at the top which is very exposed. You really need a head for heights for this hike.

View from the top of Kirkjufellmountain.

If you do make it to the top the views are out of this world, especially on a day like we managed to get. There was not a cloud in the sky!

Once we completed the hike we went to stay at the clean and well kept hostel at Grundarfjörður.

I did spend sometime taking a few images of the famous Kirkjufell mountain in the evening, but the real treat was in the morning. I awoke, or to be precise, I didn't sleep very well as I was not sure if I should get up early but eventually got out of bed at 6:30am and went to see the amazing morning light. Below is one of the many images I created and is now on my website here.

Kirkjufell mountain with Kirkjufellsfoss in the foreground.

After being up so early I had the whole day in front of me, so went for a small walk just north east of Grundarfjörður up Eyrarhyrna. We then headed east to Ólafsvík for some ice cream in the sun. The route home would take us up and over the peninsula and once over onto the south side it was very foggy, grey and cloudy. I think we got a lucky break with the weather, as the mountains along peninsula seemed to be holding back the bad weather.

Driving around the Snæfellsnes peninsula and back to Reykjavik.

What an amazing weekend with some great weather and some amazing hiking. I will be back to visit the peninsula as I never made it to the end, or hiked the Snæfell mountain.

I hope you all enjoyed this blog and there is still my week adventure to the glacier lagoon at Jökulsárlón, and some crazy weather. Iceland is an amazing place.

Thanks,

Kev

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P.S.

Although the weather on the way home was not as sunny and bright as it had been on the way up, we did manage to locate one of Iceland's little gems of a hot pool...Landbrotalaug. This is only big enough for four people and we were lucky as there was no one there when we arrived. Perfect.

Hiking in the wild. / May 4, 2017 by Kevin Hatcher

The weather in Iceland for the last week has been wet! I mean it has been raining for days! No fun! Now I don't mind hiking in the "weather" but not when it is pouring down with rain to begin with. That being said I have managed to get out and try to take some pictures, it is just the light doesn't always cooperate.

Hike 1 - Hvalvatn lake.

I have hiked towards this lake twice now via a Western approach trail to Gymur falls, but have never quite made it to the Hvalvatn lake or the summit of Hvalfell. This time I wanted to try and catch the sunset over Hvalvatn, and approached the lake from the West. I drove up as far as I could in my Skoda Octavia 4X4 estate, before the "roads" turned into a serious 4X4 track only, and hiked the rest.

I started at 5:00pm and the sunset was about 9:45pm, and I had a long way to go. The weather started with hail and wind, and thankfully eased off. It never really cleared however it did provide me with some amazing images of the snowy hills against the storm filled clouds. (New website Image!)

Unfortunately, I never made it to the lake, as the light was not in my favour and it was getting late. I reluctantly headed back, and as you can see from the GPS route below I still had a long way to go. The elusive Hvalvatn lake and Hvalfell will have to wait for another day.

Lesson learned today, always give yourself more time than you think.

Hike 2 - Pverfell.

Fast forward a few days and the sun is splitting the sky in Reykjavik, so I am up and out to see if I can go further into the wilds. Travelling just under an hour and half to hike Pverfell, and see if I could take a few images of the lake behind it. The greatest and worst thing about Iceland is the weather. I had only just left Reykjavik and it started raining, but I pushed on.

As you can see, a short route, but it was nice to be away on my own in the wilderness.

The light and weather seemed to be against me again, as when I reached the summit the clouds came in and engulfed me in fog. So no view today, but it was great to get more experience hiking in Iceland.

Hugging the cairn at the top of Pverfell.

What a great few days hiking and there is still so much more to see!

This weekend I am going to the Snæfellsnes peninsula and the famous Kirkjufell mountain and then next week down South East to Jökulsárlón to see the glacier lagoon and do some hiking in the Vatnajökull national park!

I can't wait, but the blog may have to wait until I get back.

Onward to the summer and camping in the wild.

Cheers

Kev

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