The 4x4 Rookie Trip
6th - 8th March 2004
Early morning we take our breakfast and get ready for the day. The weather doesn't look to bad so we decide on a different route back.
The temperature is up so the snow is becoming a bit wet.
The first obstacle is getting up from a steep mountainside at Kisubotnar. After a few attempts a track is made and everyone is able to climb up.
Palmi Th. Vilbergs and his Nissan Patrol 2000 on 38" TrXus tires.
Olafur Gustafsson and his Land Cruiser 1999 on 38" Radial Mudder.
As we get higher the visibility is getting lower so we form form a line and stick together. The fog and the snow blend perfectly together and you only see a few meters.
For our safety Einar Kjartansson walks ahead a part of the way. Where does the snow stop and the skyline begin?
Forming a line!
When we get lower the visibility improves again, but it has also started to rain!
Asgeir Halldorsson had the trips oldest 4x4. A poison green Scout from 1974! He had a long list of problems with the truck but managed to drive the whole trip and home again!
Crossing a river on an ice bridge can be a bit scary and must be performed with caution.
We take a small detour to look at at deep canyon with a very special waterfall, Kerlingarfoss.
The rain and the wind is increasing...
Close to the hut at Leppistungur, Einar's Cherokee gets stuck in the ice while trying to find a way over the river.
While we are trying this another part of the group is getting ahead of us.
Hjalmar Diego Hadarson and his huge Toyota Land Cruiser on 44 inch Dick Cepec tires, gets stuck in a small ice covered lake. The depth can be estimated from the fact that his 44" tires are completely under water!
Getting him out of there takes some serious winching!
The rain is still increasing!
The next river we reach is Budara (Búðará). This is usually a small a quiet stream easily crossable by your typical family car during the sommertime.
Today the river looks ugly...
...but Gudmundur Gudmundsson on his Toyota Hi-Lux Double Cab decide to cross. He crosses straight over the usual track but the river gets hold of the truck and carries it down stream where he finally manages to crawl on to dry land.
We try to find a better route over the river. Gunnar Kristjansson on his Land Cruiser on 44 inch tires manages to get over but the truck is nearly caught by the heavy stream.
Five 4x4's are now on the other side of the river but sixteen are stuck on this side. Since it is getting dark soon we decide to wait until daylight. Hopefully the rain will stop and the water settle...
People phone their relatives and employers since tomorrow should be a working day!
Somebody has friends in a rescue unit and they are ready to help us if necessary.
