Sunshine

Sunday, September 18
Coming from the Sunshine State, this is not something I usually think about; but, in Iceland, sunshine days are in the minority. Today we wake to the sunrise and immediately begin thinking of our hiking plans in Snaefellsjökull National Park. Snaefellsjökull is the highest mountain and ice cap on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. No, we are not climbing it, but there is a gravel road that goes up around Snaefellsjökull with several interesting hikes along the way.

We find the gravel road (575) and our first destination, the trailhead to Raudhóll, an extinct volcano responsible for one of the lava flows, here to the sea. The view from the rim of the crater is stunning, as is our return via a lava tube and glacial stream, complete with waterfall.

Next stop along the road is the Klukkufoss waterfall with its district and impressive columnar basalt formations. The air is unbelievably fresh and cool!

Then hiking across the ancient lava to Snekkjufoss, we feel the presence of the little people and their fantastical animals watching us, our imaginations running wild. Going off trail, we head up the canyon following the sound of water and find two more falls, more impressive than the first.

Onward to Hreggnadi, a 469 meter peak we climb to be treated to ariel views of our two previous hikes. The wind up there was terrific, and I had lean forward to stand upright. How could the views from our next hike be labeled "magnificent" after what we had just seen?

But from Sjónarhol, the rim of an old cone, they were more expansive, and yes, magnificent, highlighting the peak we had just climbed.

The deteriorating road led us to the base of Snaefellsjökull's glaciers and I could see the blue ice from the car window.

Around and down we go, catching a glimpse of the northern coastline before descending along the right side of the volcano, Stapefell, repudiated home of the local little people. Can you see their house doors protruding from it's surface?

Here we explore Songhelir, a cave created by a collapsed crater. 18th century graffiti adorns its walls and it echoes beautifully Could it be the songs of dwarfs nearby?

Back to the main road and the southern coast, we make one last trek to the Londranger rock pillars (volcanic plugs) hoping for a interesting sunset shot. They look like chess pieces to me! A storm is brewing and the wind is cold at 44 degrees, as the sun goes down and we head back to the hotel.