Vatnajökull
Grímsfjall
February 24th - 26th 2006
The first big wheeling trip of the year is on. 10 trucks heading for Grimsfjall in Vatnajokull. Weather forecast is promising even though it is unusually warm for the time of year. Three days of true adventure!
A lot of interesting things happened and we got the best trip in months with the most spectacular view!
Cloudy but dry as we reach the first off road part of the route. We started out from Reykjavik in the early morning and headed east to Hrauneyjar where we filled the tanks. Next stop will be Jokulheimar where a small hut is situated close to the edge of the great Vatnajokull ice-cap.
To make the ride smoother I reduce the air in the tires to 6 psi or so.
Guðmundur and his co driver Steindór on the red 38 inch modified Land Cruiser.
My island blue Explorer Sport Track on 38 inch Ground Hawk tires.
Bessi and his co driver Gunnlaugur on the light blue Hilux Double Cab on 38 inch tires.
Einar and his brother Árni on the red 36 inch Cherokee.
Gunnar and his girlfriend Linda on the older 44 inch Ferrari red Land Cruiser. The old hut at Jokulheimar in the back.
Sigurjon and Gunnar Fanndal (son of Gunnar) on his Land Cruiser 44 inch modified.
Birgir on his newly acquired Nissan Patrol with the 44 inch Dick Cepec's.
Geir and Issi (Johann) on Birgir's former 38 inch modified Land Cruiser.
Skuli on his Land Rover Defender on 38 inch Mudders.
Dagur and his co driver Bragi on his newly bought Nissan Patrol on 38 inch Trxus tires.
Open rivers are even this close to the ice-cap. This one conveniently has an ice-bridge that Einar is the first to cross.
A little further I am not as lucky and the ice breaks from under my ST and it is seriously stuck between the ice with the water flowing under.
Getting it unstuck with the hope of not damaging anything is the next task. Everyone is immediately helping out. Breaking the ice from the front to make space for pulling the truck up. Hooking up winch lines to keep it from rolling over and attaching the rope to the hooks in front. Small rocks are used to build a route for the right tire.
Rear view of the situation.
Dagur on the Nissan Patrol is ready to pull me up.
Up it goes with no harm done!
The hole.
Soon after we are cruising on the ice cap. Heading straight to Grimsfjall.
Bessi looses air from his right rear tire and it goes off the rim.
In the atmosphere of help and be helped getting it back on is quickly done. The Hilux is lifted with a high-lift jack and snow is cleared from under the tire. With the rope used to even out the pressure around the circumference of the wheel and pumping air in to get the tire into position.
Snow is certainly inside the tire, but will change into water and not be a problem off road.
Hut at Grimsfjall
Hut at Grimsfjall looks unreal and not at all cozy on the outside - with all the ice and snow burying it. Window and door barely visible.
Gunnar handles the task of clearing the entrance.
Since this is the Guinness society and the time is correct a toast is made in Guinness beer.
Grimsfjall is an amazing place. At the height of over 1700 meter at the south side of a frozen lake and in the middle of the biggest ice-cap in Europe. The hut is heated with natural hot water. Warm and cozy on the inside. Even has a separate outhouse with steam bath and a shower!
Tomorrow will be the big day...
