Day 2 - Hrafntinnusker to Alftavatn

Had a great sleep! I had nabbed a top bunk, next to the window, and apart from the night time foray into a gale to find the outdoor loo, it was all cosy. Inga was on the sat phone and told us that no independent walkers were allowed to proceed (so those poor 15 hikers had to head back!). We were to walk a different way ( head more south west), and our support vehicle would take us at the end of the day to the hut. Apparently the wind in the pass was so strong that it would blow people into the steep gullies, and it was then impossible to get out!!  Oh the drama!!

All our outer gear was damp, but with my wonderful Icebreaker I was warm. We had to make our sandwiches etc and carry all our food and gear for the day, but having Thor take our big packs was a luxury!!

Apart from the lava fields and thermal activity

 we started to see glaciers...

It was still raining today, but got less as the day went on. Running water everywhere, but you have to be careful as they have two sorts, fucking hot ( thermal ) or fucking cold (glacial). Many people burn themselves badly.

We walked through the most amazing landscape, huge flat fields like a ploughed paddock of lava sand, with massive mountains all around.

many times the hills were just like a rainbow of colours

The rivers were raging and full of mud. And no trees made it feel at times like we were on the moon!

 I was looking very glamorous (my gear was fantastic and performed very well in the weather). Actually I was really starting to enjoy myself as I was doing great fitness wise, has no blisters, and the group was a nice mix of chatting and just walking on our own.

At the end of the day we came to a lake with these huge lava chunks ( as big as houses) known as lava bombs. When a volcano goes off you can be in big danger, thinking that you are just on the end of the ash fall area, and these lava bombs can come flying out.  So Link, I don't think standing by the car would help if that happened.

We had the hut at Alftavatn all to ourselves ( as none else could hike) so it was luxury!! And no I never did have to share my bed with a stranger, I was to quick at grabbing a top single bunk!!!

Track Notes:Distance 12 km, estimated walking time 4 - 5 hours. Elevation decrease 490 m. The first part of the trail takes us through a valley with some small ravines but be careful as they may be filled with snow. If the visibility is good a walk up to the top of mountain "Háskerðingur" (1281 m) will reward your with a breathtaking view. Soon we leave the colourful rhyolite mountains and enter an area with dark palagonite mountains and glaciers. You will also notice a considerable increase in vegetation. The trail down the "Jökultungur" is rather steep but leads down to a friendly oasis on the banks of river "Grashagakvísl" a fine place to rest for a while. From there on the trail to the two huts by the lake "Álftavatn" is on flat land. There are two huts (58 persons, GPS 63°51.470 - 19°13.640).