4x4 Snow and Ice -Hofsjökull - Langjökull
A big trip with 150 trucks is on schedule by the Icelandic 4x4 club in the first weekend of March. My plan was on getting my truck ready for it, but unfortunately it is now clear that I was too optimistic.
A preparation and overview trip has been set for the weekend. The plan is to drive over Hofsjokull ice-cap the same route that will be used in two weeks time.
However, for this trip, Birgir offered me a ride in his Land Cruiser 90. Although it was on short notice this was an opportunity I couldn't resist.
We started out at around 7 p.m. and took our first stop at the gas station at Geysir. Besides Birgir, our group of four trucks consists of Gudmundur and Dagur on a similar LandCruiser, Bessi and his nephew on a Toyota HiLux Double cab and Einar and his father on the Cherokee.
Everyone of these trucks has an on-board laptop with maps and GPS connection for navigation.
Kerlingarfjoll mountains are in the highlands just south of Hofsjokull. A group of huts are located there and can be rented.
Getting there was not too hard with all the driving mostly on highway but some snow to slow us down a little bit.
We where staying in one of the smaller A-shaped huts with relatively good heating by a small gas oven.
Owner of this Hummer decided to sleep in the truck instead of a hut. Looks a bit chilly but was probably not too bad. Modifying the Hummer for 44 inch Dick Cepec tires is not hard and this one has seen a lot of action for the past years.
Weather forecast was good for Saturday, but the low clouds didn't seem to be on there way to clear out. Soon we are on our way up the glacier.
At around 1300 meters height the snow is getting softer making the trucks movement harder. Bessi's HiLux is starting to overheat, but like so often before Dagur is able to fix the problem with a piece of wire.
Wind is increasing and visibility is getting lower...
...Bessi is the only one who can make his own tracks. We follow.
As we get closer to the top our traveling speed is getting close to zero. Getting over the ice-cap this day would take too much time and effort. Finally a decision is made to head back and go to spend the night at Hveravellir.
Using backtracking from the GPS and mapping software works well.
Einar and his father must be at Akureyri in the north the day after, but Hveravellir also opens up possibilities for the rest of the group to choose a more interesting route back.
Daylight is fast fading away. We cross this river that is mostly under ice and snow, but has some potentially dangerous openings like this one. You can see the thickness of snow, approximately 1.5 meters.
Hveravellir is a small weather station and mountain huts with sleeping. Hveravellir has some geothermal hot water spring some of witch is used as natural baths. Nightlife at Hveravellir proved amazing with fireworks and Jacuzzi trips.
The weather station closest to the center of Iceland.
A fully modified 4x4 Econoline on 44 inch Groung Hawg's. This is owned by a voluntary rescue team.
The rest of the rescue team are of course much earlier. Snowmobiles are fast!
A Grand Cherokee on 38 inch Radial Monster Mudders.
Land Cruiser 80 on 44 inch Dick Cepecs.
Suzuki Vitara on 31 inch tires. Because it is so light it is incredibly capable on snow.
Here is a nice one! An older type LandCruiser has been stretched by around 60 cm (2 feet) and well restored too.
An 80's model Toyota Hilux with the rear wheels moved further back and rebuilt suspension.
Last night Bessi had bent his rim so the air got out, making a flat. After taking off the tire Dagur is able to use a sledge hammer to get it back into proper shape, stopping the leak.
Fog is settling in, but looks thin as the sun is shining through.
Einar had left early northbound to Akureyri, but we are heading south.
As we drive south along the side of Langjokull the fog is still with us. Since it still looks thin we might be able to get rid of it by going up. Langjokull ice-cap could be clear, but you never really know with glacier weather conditions.
Driving on a frozen river in fog with the sun trying to reach through can be a mystical experience!
The lowest part of the glacier is steep.
As we get higher a blue color is starting to get through the fog.
Wow!
The group.
Birgir in his LandCruiser 90.
Gudmundur in his LandCruiser 90 puts up a flag with the Icelandic colors.
Two brothers, similar but not identical.
Following this track proves to be best. The track was made yesterday and we know it will lead us down safely at Skalpanes.
Three Toyotas on the ice-cap. Everyone is admiring the view.
Gullfoss is on the way back and it is no less grand to see it in its winter clothes.
This has been a great weekend!
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