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Grade
The
most experienced hillwalker will find much to stimulate and
challenge them on this trek. Due
to the remoteness of the terrain no vehicle support is possible.
Some equipment will therefore have to be divided amongst the group
and carried in rucksacks. Treks from May to early July will
encounter snow underfoot to varying degrees. Novices will not be
accepted on the May departure, because of the higher incidence of
snow and more challenging weather at this time of year. This can
be a physically demanding tour, so clients should be prepared before
departure to ensure they make the most of their Iceland experience.
Make sure that you have gear that you are comfortable with!
This
trek affords many opportunities to see and walk through an amazing
and varied landscape and the rewards soon outweigh the hardships
(i.e. the basic huts and the thought of carrying your own baggage!)
on this fantastic trip.
Daily
distances walked should not exceed 20km. However, clients should be
able to cover twice this distance in emergency conditions. The bonus
here is that at this time of year it is light all the time (except
on the August departure).
Equipment
& Clothing
If
you regularly walk in the hills you should already have much of the
equipment and clothing required. Iceland, despite its name is not a
land of perpetual frost!
In
July shorts can be worn. Warm and windproof clothing should be
brought, gaiters will be valuable. A three-season sleeping bag and a
foam insulation mat will be needed. A detailed list of recommended
clothing and personal equipment will be sent with confirmation of
reservation.
Food
& Accommodation
All
meals on trek are included in the cost. Accommodation on the three
nights in Reykjavik is hostel style, and you will need your sleeping
bag; you have to pay for all meals individually in Reykjavik.
Reykjavik is expensive; in contrast there are no opportunities to
spend any money whilst on trek. To eat out in a proper restaurant in
Reykjavik costs, at a minimum, around fifteen pounds. This is a
minimum, you may well want to spend more. It is cheaper than this if
you just want to snack on a takeaway type meal. There are burger
bars and inns that serve local dishes such as pickled herring and
vegetables for considerably less. Be warned that a round of drinks
can leave your wallet choking!
Huts
vary in quality from very, very basic, made of wood, iron, turf and
stone, and some with dirt floors, through basic - a bit more iron,
concrete and stone and maybe a water pipe for good measure- to a
couple of rather good quality huts
(depending on which itinerary you choose). Accommodation in
Reykjavik is in a very nice dormitory-style pension with a kitchen
area that you can use so maybe bring some tea, packet soup or
noodles for a warming snack while you are there. It may also be
worth considering bringing a hip flask of your favourite tipple.
Although strictly contrary to good mountain practice, it will be a
welcome friend in the evening time. At the moment Strutslaug hut has
not had permission for a rebuild since an avalanche hit it and you
will have to camp outside at this site only.
Food
is of a good standard and consists largely of high-energy foods and
dehydrated meals that soon spring to life when nurtured by Icelandic
water (and a bit of stirring) over the Primus!
There
will not be a specific vegetarian departure this year. However, we
are sympathetic to client's requirements and do our best to cater
for vegetarians if we are notified at the time of booking. As food
is pre-stocked in the huts, we ask clients to let us know well in
advance of their needs and to be flexible wherever possible
concerning food. If on a strict diet, vegetarians should bring some
vegetarian food that does not need much preparation.
How
the Trek is Organised
The
trek penetrates deep into uninhabited country and uses simple huts
and pre-dumped food stocks, augmented by food carried by group
members. Group members must be able and willing to take a full part
in jobs necessary on this kind of expedition: loads of up to 20kg
(44lb), 15 kg (33lb) for women, will sometimes have to be carried.
Team spirit is an essential part of a Torfajokull trek. Practicality
and adaptability are the keys to comfort whilst crossing the
Torfajokull region on foot.
Books
& Maps
It
is suggested that no books are brought on the trek. Weight is at a
premium whilst backpacking. As background reading before departure
the following is a useful source of information on Iceland in
general.
‘Classic
Walks in Europe’, edited by Walt Unsworth, which is out
of print at the moment, but you will probably find a copy in the
library.
Thorsmork/Landmannalaugar
1:100,000 map £8 with the addition of the 1:100,000 sheet 67
for tours starting at Sveinstindur £7.
A
more detailed list of books/maps will be sent to you within your
pre-departure information, which is sent with confirmation of
booking.
N.B:
It is possible to leave pre-packed clean clothes, etc, with the
organisers at the beginning of the trip, to be picked up at the end.
This is usually more suitable than leaving packages at Reykjavik
accommodation.
Included
Return
flight by ‘Icelandair’ from Heathrow to Keflavik (air travel
clients only),
transfer to and from Reykjavik.
All food on trek, but breakfasts only in Reykjavik. The
Icelandic government on passengers leaving Keflavik by air levies an
“international departure tax”; it is included in quoted tour
charges. No visa is required for citizens of the EC, USA, Canada or
Australia.
Important
Please
note that we work with Mr Dick Phillips on all the departures that
we advertise. He has been operating tours to Iceland for over 40
years now and has a wealth of knowledge of this area. He also stocks
maps and books on Iceland.
Escorted
Departure Dates
Group Size: Min 4, max 15 plus
trek leader
*BTJ18 Sun
18 May - Sun 1 June
*BTJ14
Sat 14 June - Sat 28 June
BTJ19 Sat
19 July - Sat 2 August
BTJ09 Sat
9 August - Sat 23 August
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Outline
Itinerary
Flights
from Heathrow generally fly out at around 21:00. So if you are flying from Heathrow, you will not arrive at the
hostel before midnight, but it will be open.
There
follows two itineraries: Westbound and Eastbound. For 2008, departures
from UK on 18/05/08 Eastbound (via Landmannalaugar), and 14/06/08 Eastbound via Strutslaug.
Departures
on 19/07/08 and on 09/08/08 are Westbound (via Sveinstindur).
Clients
will normally have their free day in Reykjavik at the end of the trip.
This may possibly be changed around to the beginning in order to
accommodate prevailing conditions.
Please
note that variations to these itineraries may occur due to roads being
impassable and sometimes through substitution of chartered for scheduled
transport. Other circumstances may cause minor changes. Also, note the
first tour of the season normally has a slightly different itinerary to
that below, missing out Strutslaug.
Eastbound Itinerary
q
Day 1: Fly to
Keflavik, transfer to your accommodation in Reykjavik.
q
Day 2: Assemble;
catch 0830 bus to Hvolsvollur (108 km). If the weather is good you should
see the dormant volcano of Hekla, which is snow- capped and looks a bit
like Mt. Fuji. Thence you will be taken by private transport to
Fljotsdalur hostel (27km). Lunch: afternoon free to browse around. The ice
caps of Myrdalsjokull and Eyjafjallajokull are visible. Down the valley
the land is flat out to the sea, 31km away. Look out for the horny
Icelandic sheep!
q
Day 3: Walk to
Einhyrningur Hut (15km), crossing River Gilsa en route, the first chance
that you have to get your feet wet. When you get to the hut you may
consider scaling Einhyrningur hill. It is not as big as it looks and from
the top, if it is clear, you may see Laufafell, which is as big as it
looks!
q
Day 4: Walk past
the Markarfljot Gorge and Lifrarfjoll to the small Krokur hut, crossing
River Hvitmaga. (14km). A positively austere setting with the sound of the
rivers for company.
q
Day 5: Walk to
the hut north of Laufafell (19km). You will walk over cols and down across
lavafields to this very remote area, where you are surrounded on three
sides by rivers, which change their dynamics between the days and the
night.
q
Day 6: Free day
at Laufafell: If conditions are good, you may be able to climb Laufafell
itself, with tremendous views over the area.
q
Day 7: Walk (over
high rhyolite if conditions permit) to Hvanngil, crossing River
Markarfljot and several minor rivers. A strenuous day. (20km)
q
Day 8: Walk to
Strutslaug, crossing several minor rivers. (16km). Camp.
q
Days 9 & 10: Are
based at Strutslaug and involve day walks in the high rhyolite to
Torfajokull or by Holmsarlon.
q
Day 11: Walk to
Alftavatn, crossing River Sydri-Ofaera. (15 km)
q
Day 12: Is based
at Alftavatn, walking in Eldgja to Ofaerufoss and back. (20km) Eldgja is
an example of a volcanic fissure which split open some centuries ago. When
you get to Ofaerufoss you will find an amazing double level waterfall a
bit like a giant High Force in the Pennines. There used to be a rock
bridge over the falls, but this collapsed in 1993.
q
Day 13: Drive
back to Reykjavik in a chartered bus, arriving 5 pm.
q
Day 14: Free in
Reykjavik.
q
Day 15: Transfer
to Keflavik airport, fly home.
Westbound
Itinerary
q
Day 1: Fly to
Keflavik, transfer to your accommodation in Reykjavik.
q
Day 2: Depart in
chartered bus to road head under Sveinstindur. Overnight in small hut 1km
beyond road head. (238km road journey).
q
Day 3: Based by
Sveinstindur, to allow ascent of mountain for views over Langisjor, Laki
and Vatnajokull.
q
Day 4: Walk via
Rotagil to Skaelingar hut. (15km)
q
Day 5: Walk over
shoulder of Gjatindur: ascend Gjatindur for view down Eldgja valley,
thence to Ofaerufoss, and on to Alftavatn. (16km). Eldgja is an example of
a volcanic fissure which split open some centuries ago. When you get to
Ofaerufoss you will find an amazing double level waterfall a bit like a
giant High Force. There used to be a rock bridge over the falls, but this
collapsed in 1993.
q
Day 6: Walk to
Strutslaug, crossing River Sydri-Ofaera. (14km). Camp.
q
Days 7 & 8: are
based at Strutslaug, walking in the high rhyolite to the edge of the
Torfajokull ice cap or by Holmsarlon. Great Mountain walking.
q
Day 9: Walk to
Hvanngil, crossing several minor rivers. (15km).
q
Day 10: Walk to
Einhyrningur hut, crossing River Blafjallakvisl and passing Markarfljot
Gorge. This is the furthest inland that the sea birds penetrate to roost
and can be interesting at certain times of the year. At certain places the
view from the gorge down to the river is spectacular and the view is for
many miles and you can hear it rumbling away to the sea. (19km).
q
Day 11: Walk to
Fljotsdalur Hostal, crossing River Gilsa. This is the last chance to get
your feet wet, so make the most of it! (15km).
q
Day 12: Free day
based at Fljotsdalur. A beautiful location overlooking the valley of the
Markarfljot and the Eyjafjallajokull Ice caps. You will see Icelandic
sheep and it is a good spot for bird watching too. The hostel has an
extensive library all about Iceland. Looking down the valley you can
imagine you can see the sea! This is the first time that you will have
seen any trees for almost a couple of weeks! Fljotsdalur is a traditional
turf covered hostel and there is a flush toilet inside.
q
Day 13: Depart by
scheduled bus for Reykjavik (135km).
Arrive 11am.
q
Day 14: Free day
in Reykjavik. Take a walk about in Europe's most unusual capital city; a
place of corrugated iron-clad cottages and bungalows with triple glazing,
highly fashionable and highly expensive shopping streets, dockyards and
botanical gardens. Omnipotent is the 'feel' of the sea, whether it is the
cry of the seagulls and Arctic Terns, or the smell of weed, fish and salt.
The fine new church in the capital pierces the sky like a huge icicle. It
is puritanical white within and without. You could t hire a car and travel
to some local hot springs for a swim or to visit the sights. Or perhaps
hire bikes and get blown around town and into the countryside!
q
Day 15: Transfer
to Keflavik airport, fly home.
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