A2) Öræfin við Snæfell The Highlands 
at Snæfell Mountain

6 days – Provisions by car 

 Departure 13th July 2006

Jökulsá á Dal – Eyjabakkar – Snæfell – Lindur – Jökla – Rauðaflúð – Sauðafellsalda – Kringilsá Stuðlagátt – Kringilsárrani – Hraukar – Töfrafoss  – Hafrahvammagljúfur – Kárahnjúkar  

-- Itinerary --

DAY 1: 
EGILSSTAÐIR – FLJÓTSDALUR – GLÚMSTAÐASEL – EYJABAKKAR – SNÆFELL 
Departure by car from Egilsstaðir village at 9:15 am. En route to Kárahnjúkar area via Fljótsdalur valley. Hike up by a series of waterfalls on glacial river Jökla, altogether 15 falls and numerous magnificent rapids. Visibility allowing, the King of Icelandic mountains, Snæfell, our destination, is in magnificent view. Extra shoes for wading may come in handy as the wetlands, brooks, and streams feeding Jökla are liable to grow during the summer. Rendezvous with Sibbi, our driver, is planned before marching on to our camp at the roots of Snæfell where we will stay for two nights in the bosom of glaciers and mountains after a long day’s journey.
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DAY 2: 
EYJABAKKAR 
This day is dedicated to the unique Eyjabakkar wetlands, formed by the fine silt deposited by glacial river Jökulsá á Fljótsdal. An unparalleled oasis of vegetation, 650m above sea level, habitat of most of the known species of highland vegetation, some of them very rare. We will head in the direction of Eyjabakka glacier and will inspect Hraukar, magnificent examples of terminal moraines, and the neighbouring tarns, in an area where reindeer and pink-footed geese feed and roam. We will trek to our camp in the neighbourhood of the planned site of the Eyjabakkar dam. This is where a group of artists and other lovers of nature enacted a performance to protest against the destruction of the site.

DAY 3: 
SNÆFELL / SNÆFELL – LINDUR 
Weather allowing, we will climb Snæfell mountain as it affords a magnificent view in all directions. On the west side, over Brúarjökull glacier, the Western highlands and Brúardalur valley are in view along with the mountains Kverkfjöll, Dyngjufjöll, and Herðubreið. To the east, we’ll see Eyjabakkajökull and Þrándarjökull glaciers, Dyngjufjöll mountain, and the Austfirðir mountain range. If visibility is limited, we will inspect the extraordinary oases of Vesturöræfi heath. In this area one finds, quite uniquely, continuous vegetation from the roots of the glacier down to the coast. Our journey goes on from here, by bus to Sauðahnjúkar mounts, on foot through the wetlands with its colourful birdlife. The direction is set for Kárahnjúkar and our camp in the vicinity of Lindur, a natural spring.

DAY 4: 
LINDUR  – SAUÐÁ – JÖKLA – RAUÐAFLÚÐ – SAUÐAFELLSALDA 
Our driver Sibbi, will take us to Sauðá river. We will follow Sauðá downstream to Jökla river. From there we will head south, following Jökla upstream, by its canyons and verdant banks, to look at the impressive columnar basalt formations and nests of pink footed geese. We will see the „red“ rapids in Jökla, called „Rauðuflúðir“. Our route will take us through a grown area to our camp for the night in Sauðafellsalda hill, where we will stay for two nights.

5. DAGUR 
KRINGILSÁRRANI
Hike down to the crossing of Jökla river and Kringilsá river. Among countless sights: The magnificent canyons of Kringilsá and the river’s raging rapids. We will get to know the unique sanctuary of Kringilsárrani. We will spend the day in serenity, enjoying natural beauty and a surprisingly varied flora and fauna. We will take a look at the geology of Brúarjökull glacier, its sediments and moraines offering an unparalleled historical reading of this great outlet-glacier. We will inspect the feeding grounds of reindeer and pink-footed geese, rare highland vegetation, canyons, rapids, waterfalls, sediment terraces, terminal moraines and other glacial vestiges. BBQ in the evening: Leg of lamb a la Augnablik.

6. DAGUR 
SAUÐAFELLSALDA – HAFRAHVAMMAGLJÚFUR – KÁRAHJNÚKAR – EGILSSTAÐIR
The car will take us to Dimmugljúfur canyon. We will enjoy the unique Laugavalladalur valley. We will see the greatest river canyons in Iceland, Hafrahvammagljúfur. We will make a short stop by the site of the planned Kárahnjúkavirkjunar dam (protest stand for those who feel like it). From there the car will take us to Egilsstaðir village in time for our late-afternoon flight.

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Our journey starts at Egilsstaðir village, where passengers will be picked up at 9:00. By the end of the journey, participants will be dropped off at the same place in time for the late-afternoon flight.

The provisions, tents and such will be transported by car. It is therefore only necessary to carry light daypacks, with food and protective clothing.

Some of the day-journeys are short while others are longer. Our pace however will be comfortable and rather slow.  The elevation is not great except when we walk upstream by glacial river, Jökulsá in Fljótsldalur, the first day, in which we cover the greatest distance.

NB. This trip can be prolonged, see A1

NB: the last evening’s BBQ is included, as well as breakfast and provisions for the last day.

Price: IKR 35.000

Included in the package: guided tour, provisions and travel by car. Last evening’s BBQ, breakfast and camping food the last day. Yoga sessions in the mornings and evenings.

Guides: Ásta Arnardóttir og Ósk Vilhjálmsdóttir
Driver: Sigurbjörn Árnason
Yoga teacher: Ásta Arnardóttir

Note that the outlined itinerary is subject to change, at the discretion of the guides.

Bookings: Þuríður Einarsdóttir: augnablik@this.is
Tel:  (354) 8644012

Confirmation fee IKR 5.000 payable into Augnablik account 0306-26-883 SSN. 670793-2499. Please remember to state full name. Confirmation fee non-refundable
 
Introductory meeting to be announced.