After a more restful night I sneak out of the bunk room, go down the stairs of the hut and head outside. There are no views of the nearby mountains due to the low cloud ceiling but the nearby birds have already launched into action for the day. I spot some of the smaller birds including redwings and a couple of white wagtails, who are all on the move. Life is frenetic if you are a migratory bird in Iceland for the summer! Once it is 7 am there is a hive of activity in the kitchen with two of the other hiking groups preparing and then tucking into breakfast. These are the hikers who have to head out early for the day. We can wait a bit longer this morning as we will be staying in this hut for another night and hence limiting our trekking to the nearby region.
I revisit the previous 4 days spent on the Laugavegur trail as it is well depicted on one of the signs outside of the main hut, as pictured below. I can visualise all of the mountain peaks that I trekked by (some of which were not visible at the time). Breakfast is the usual porridge and strong coffee along with bread and butter. As we will only head off for 3-4 hours of trekking today there is no need to pack a lunch.
We set off for a short trek up nearby Mount Valahnuker, with Solvi (our guide), leading the way. Initially we ascend through a patch of birch forest before the vegetation begins to rapidly thin out. Some alpine orchids are spotted and this distracts the members of the group who are into taking photos of the vegetation. So what is better than one alpine orchid? Two different types of alpine orchids!
Onwards and upwards we head until we are at the top of Mount Valahnuker. The hoped for views of the nearby glaciers are nixed by the cloud cover, but the views of the nearby valleys with the glacier fed rivers are worth it. Below on the left had side is the Krossa river, in which 4 wheel drive vehicles get trapped weekly during the summer, usually when inexperienced drivers take risks! Solvi has stories to tell about these types of vehicle mishaps as well. Hint, they are very expensive if you are the driver.
Then it is time for a group shot as we all stand on a nearby buttress
After a fairly rapid decsent we find ourselves at the Volcano huts complex over in a nearby valley. The Volcano huts are a bit more salubrious as they also cater for day trippers to the area. It is discovered that there is Wifi, so a couple of quick messages are sent to family and friends, to basically say that I am alive and well. We meet two new trekkers who are joining the group for the next couple of days for the forthcoming Fimmvorouhals trek.
Mercifully we do not need to repeat our mornings journey up and over Mount Valahnuker but instead we follow a trail though the forested region of Porsmork back to Langidalur. By this stage the sun has come out so the outer gear can be discarded. The colours of the flowers along with the vibrant undergrowth are really brought out by the added light. What is not captured by the photos are the sounds made by the numerous small birds who have made this region their home during summer.
Once back at the Langidalur hut complex we have to farewell 5 members of the group who will be departing on the bus back to Reykjavik. So everyone takes it in turn to say their goodbyes. Solvi (our guide) has ensured that flat bread, cheese and smoked salmon are available for sandwiches. For those of us who are remaining we can actually enjoy being outside and marvelling at the nearby mountain scenery for the rest of the day.
I take the opportunity to wash the most offensive items of clothing as there is an outside washing line (and the sun is out). The rest of the afternoon is spent either in the sun or strolling around the nearby region. Towards the evening when there is finally not a cloud in the sky a number of light aircraft then appear, flying along the nearby valley and around the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, which is looking simply magnificent in the sun. You cannot get too much of this view!
As the light is so good I also take the opportunity to snap a photo of the Myrdalsjokull glacier at the head of the nearby valley. Such lovely bright blue sky! All the time I am hoping that the weather will be like this tomorrow. The first part of the Fimmvorouhals trek will take us along this valley towards the trail head in the direction of the glacier.
Dinner is meat cooked up akin to spaghetti bolognaise and then a magnificent cheesecake made in the largest bowl in the hut complex. We devour it all as we have to climb 1000 metres to reach an Alpine hut at the top of a pass tomorrow. It is still bright sunlight as we all retire. A couple of my fellow trekkers opt to stay up to view the midnight sky twilight but I prefer to sleep.
To be continued: Trekking in Iceland – Fimmvorouhals Route : Day 1
Living the Life in the Great Outdoors 