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Öræfin
við Snæfell The Highlands
at Snæfell Mountain
6 days – Provisions by car. Departure 13th
July 2006 (A2)
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.
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.
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