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| This hiking trip was arranged by Icelandic mountainguides. We carried tents and camped in areas with little vegetation. The mountain guides supplied tents, food and other equipment which the group then carried. The weather was ok the first three days and good the last day. |
We took the bus with Hannes from Nupsstadur into the Nupsstadarskogur woodlands. From there we hiked up along Nupsa river until we camped at a flat area called Flatir (flats). After dinner we did an evening walk up Mt. Eystrafjall until we could see Skeidararjokull glacier and further on the Skaftafellsfjoll mountains.
We hiked from Flatir to Graenalon lagoon. We went around the west end of the lagoon where we had to ford two cold glacial rivers before reaching our destination for the day. We camped in flat area with a great view over the lagoon and the glacier.
From Graenalon lagoon we walked across Skeidararjokull glacier until we came to Nordurdalur valley in the Skaftafellsfjoll mountains. The hike across the glacier was adventurous. In the middle of the glacier is a special area where we went through a labyrinth of mudcones. The mudcones are several meters high and in abundance. When the temperature increased steam came from the mud which created a nice athmosphere. During the middle and latter part of glacier crossing we had to zigzag to get around glacier crevices. When we came down to Nordurdalur valley the glacier lagoons surfaced one after another. The campsite in Nordurdalur is one of the most spectacular in Iceland. It is situated on a ledge above glacier lagoons with a grand view of Skeidararjokull glacier. The only fault of this place is that it is not close to a stream.
In the morning we started our hike in calm weather. We hiked upwards in Nordurdalur valley on the slopes of Langagilseggjar. As we progressed upwards the wind increased and as we came up to the ridges it had become a bit windy. Along the way are colourful rhyolite mountains. Then we walked north of Blatindur peak and down to Vesturdalur valley. From there we went down to Baejarstadaskogur forest and then to Skaftafell tourist centre.
