Day 3 - Alftavatn to Emstrur

The weather was starting to get better, that is not raining sideways, and I had another great sleep. No blisters or sore muscles, so I was rocking my own world! The real challenge was drying gear ( and Eric here is a picture of the other sort of room I stay in!!!

Moosey had of course come along for the ride, this is us at the Alftavatn Lake, and note the addition of gaiters to my look..

The rivers were raging and we had to get vehicle assisted across a few ( the fun of wading across would come latter!!!)
 

 
Today we walked along what felt like the top of the world, we had views across to mountain tops, and down great gorges
 

The scale of everything is so massive that its hard to describe, all black rock and green moss, massive mountains and we just plodding along inside it all.
 
I also came to realise that I do have some fear of heights!!! Also note the addition of mittens over my gloves!!
 
 

 
 

 
The Markarfljotsgljufor Canyon was right next to Emstrur hut, so we spent the afternoon hiking its edges. It is so massive, and had the most amazing colours, that you could just stare at it for hours!!
 
 

 

 
A rainbow appeared over the canyon edge as we went down to the hut, and this turned out to be a good omen for the weather..
 
 

 
In the hut I was interested to see the evacuation plan ( always makes you feel safe! ) if Katla, the nearest volcano, went off. Apparently apart from all the obvious, aforementioned, lava bombs and ash, you have to watch the floods!! The volcanos are under glaciers, so when they go off they melt masses of water, so you need to stay on high ground as you run away really fast!!
 

Track Notes:
Distance 15 km., estimated walking time 6-7 hrs., elevation decrease 40 m. The trail takes us over the ridge "Brattháls" into "Hvanngil" ravine, wading across the river "Bratthálskvísl". In "Hvanngil" are two huts, one built for sheepherders in 1963 and one for tourists, built in 1995. A short walk from the huts is the river "Kaldaklofskvísl" with a bridge for hikers. On the eastern bank of "Kaldaklofskvísl" the trail branches, one branch leading eastwards to "Mælifellssandur" (Road F 210) but the other one southwards to "Emstrur" and we choose the latter. Less than one km from "Kaldaklofskvísl" another river has to be waded and approximately 4 km further we come to the river "Nyrðri Emstruá" but this time there is a bridge to cross it. Soon we will be overlooking the huts in "Botnar" (40 persons, GPS 63°45.980 - 19°22.480). A fine walk in the evening is to the "Markarfljótsgljúfur" canyon.