Ahhh! Landmannalaugar

As I mentioned last post we took the "easy" way to our hut down and across the Vondugil valley. Turning back the way we came, thick dark gray clouds were building on the horizon while crisp sunlight highlighted these eroded hills. What a jumble of shapes! What a variety of colours! What a sight!

Landmannalaugar's rhyolite ridges seem to exude an inner glow that doesn't require an external light source for its beauty to shine under all atmospheric conditions (as we witnessed the next two days of cloudy and then stormy skies).

Stay tuned!

Picnic Place

Trek, Day 3, 17 km towards Landmannalaugar. We walked around this lake, Lifrafjallavatn, watching the the cloudy sky and the rays of sun shining through. We stopped for a long, languid lunch at the crest of the ridge where I took this photo. I especially like the reflections in the calm surface of the lake and the mysterious horizontal band of turquoise or aquamarine blue running from the highlighted headline on the right. It disappeared after only a few minutes.

After another long steady climb after crossing route F225 (F routes are only open to fully-equipped four-wheel super Jeeps) we took the easy route to the Landmannalaugar Hut down through the Vondugil Valley and through the Laugarhraun laval field. An exhilarating 8 1/4 hour day.

Return to Iceland

I took this picture of Stútur, a pyramid-like little crater situated inside a large depression, during the first day of our trek in Iceland last summer. Paulette and I were so enamored by this rugged volcanic island that we are returning this summer.

Walking is sublime, the scenery beautifully stark, the vistas infinite! A paradise for walkers, photographers and peace seekers. This time we are on a self-guided trek in the Landmannalaugar area and a self-drive tour of the island to the south, east and north.

Paulette and I have teamed up with my Scottish cousin Edie and husband Chris. Fifteen days of outdoor adventure here we come! More photos for sure!