4x4 Pictures from
A Trip to Mount Esja
24. February 2004
Mount Esja (914 m) is the city mountain of Reykjavik. Einar Kjartansson has a habit of hiking up to the top of Esja once a week. Hiking up there is quite popular but very few have driven to the top!
Einar had been planning on doing a 4x4 tour with the Gutti travel club to Mt. Esja for some years. The trip required especially good weather conditions and today is the day. The temperature has remained under -10°C for a couple of days.
The first part of the trip proved fairly easy following a narrow winding track that has been cut into the slopes of the mountain.
Mount Esja is rather flat on the top, so driving there is not to hard except for the rough surface which is covered with sharp rocks. The winter sun is low and shines in our eyes.
Fortunately large areas are covered with snow that does much to level the track. One slope proved a bit of a problem for me. I got stuck in the middle of the icy slope and started to slide down! After airing-down and engaging the air-lockers I managed to crawl up.
The group stopped at the view-plate to enjoy the view over Reykjavik city and call some envious comrades.
Finally all the 4x4's lined up and sent out a light signal for the city-dwellers to see!
Sigurjon Sindrason took this picture of the lights of the 4x4 trucks on the mountain Esja as seen from Reykjavik. This is indeed an uncommon sight!
You probably already know my F-150 and Einar's Cherokee, so I will introduce the other trucks that came with us.
Here is Birgir and his daughter on his Toyota Land Cruiser on 38" Dick Cepec Radial tires.
Dagur and his extra long Toyota Double Cab with a view to Mt Skardsheidi in the rear. He uses 38" Ground Hawg II Radial tires.
Gudmundur with similar view on his Toyota Land Cruiser on 38" Buckshot Radial Mudder.
Skuli's Land Rover Defender at top of Mt. Esja. He uses 38" Ground Hawg's.
