Iceland Day 7
A long and beautiful day. First seal sighting on the coast of Vatnsnes Peninsula, then on to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, where the quaint village of Stykkishólmur sits in the bay of Breiðafjörður. From there, to the western tip of the peninsula to spend most of the evening circling and attempting to climb the glaciated volcano Snæfellsjökull. The views from the heights of this volcano were spectacular, especially looking back on the southern coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
Vatnsnes Peninsula on our way to Stykkishólmur
We made our way to Hvammstangi, which is the home of the Icelandic Seal Center. This area was on the southwest side of the Vatnsnes Peninsula. We traveled north, along the west shoreline of the peninsula to find a natural seal habitat (harbour seals and grey seals). The weather wasn't all that great on this morning, which may have contributed to the relative paucity of seals, but we were still able to see some. The gravel/dirt road to this area was actually quite terrible quality as well and dangerous. We then backtracked south along the Vatnsnes Peninsula to continue westward toward the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the village of Stykkishólmur.
We made our way to Hvammstangi, which is the home of the Icelandic Seal Center. This area was on the southwest side of the Vatnsnes Peninsula. We traveled north, along the west shoreline of the peninsula to find a natural seal habitat (harbour seals and grey seals). The weather wasn't all that great on this morning, which may have contributed to the relative paucity of seals, but we were still able to see some. The gravel/dirt road to this area was actually quite terrible quality as well and dangerous. We then backtracked south along the Vatnsnes Peninsula to continue westward toward the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the village of Stykkishólmur.
Stykkishólmur
This was a quiet and isolated, but beautiful town on the northern part of Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which pushes out into Breiðafjörður bay. If you want, you can take a ferry tour of the bay, which has something higher than 2000 small bird-colony islands. We didn't have time for that, but we were able to make our way to the docks, which was a gorgeous area in and of itself.
This was a quiet and isolated, but beautiful town on the northern part of Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which pushes out into Breiðafjörður bay. If you want, you can take a ferry tour of the bay, which has something higher than 2000 small bird-colony islands. We didn't have time for that, but we were able to make our way to the docks, which was a gorgeous area in and of itself.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
After leaving Stykkishólmur, we made our way west on Snæfellsnes Peninsula toward Snæfellsjökull volcano. Before we made it to the volcano, we took a stop at our digs for the night, Guesthouse Hof, which was brand new and on the coast, overlooking ocean. We had our own individual hut with a wooden interior and very clean. We then went west toward the peninsula tip and stopped at Sönghellir cave, which is a series of small volcanic rock caves formed by flowing lava.
After leaving Stykkishólmur, we made our way west on Snæfellsnes Peninsula toward Snæfellsjökull volcano. Before we made it to the volcano, we took a stop at our digs for the night, Guesthouse Hof, which was brand new and on the coast, overlooking ocean. We had our own individual hut with a wooden interior and very clean. We then went west toward the peninsula tip and stopped at Sönghellir cave, which is a series of small volcanic rock caves formed by flowing lava.
Attempt to take a shortcut to Snæfellsjökull
There was no trail in the first area where we walked to try to get closer to the glaciated volcano, but we just walked in that direction until we could no longer. We did find a cool partially frozen stream with running water underneath a slab of ice. I tried to do a "trust fall" with Amy spontaneously, but she just let me fall on my ass. The ground was similar to the Hekla ground, and abnormally soft and sponge-like, despite walking on what appeared to be rocks.
There was no trail in the first area where we walked to try to get closer to the glaciated volcano, but we just walked in that direction until we could no longer. We did find a cool partially frozen stream with running water underneath a slab of ice. I tried to do a "trust fall" with Amy spontaneously, but she just let me fall on my ass. The ground was similar to the Hekla ground, and abnormally soft and sponge-like, despite walking on what appeared to be rocks.
Trail to southeast side of Snæfellsjökull
This was one of our favorite parts of our trip. We approached the Snæfellsjökull from the south entrance to F570 (off-road), and found a trail that lead toward the volcano. After passing up a large slab of ice, it led to the peak of a hill that obscured most of the glacial face of the mountain from view. After reaching the top of the hill, the view of the mountain was breathtaking. The pictures do no justice. Although it appears we are close enough to touch the ice, there is actually a cliff between us and the mountain, that we couldn't safely maneuver down. There was a demolished small building at the peak of this hill, which appears to be something out of a book. Earlier during our first attempt to take a shortcut to Snæfellsjökull, we were finding random pieces of white-painted wood scattered across the landscape, and had no earthly idea where they came from. This demolished building (presumably by weather) was the source. We took off back down the trail and continued on the off-roads to our most rugged off-road terrain of the trip to access the northern(ish) side of the Snæfellsjökull volcano.
This was one of our favorite parts of our trip. We approached the Snæfellsjökull from the south entrance to F570 (off-road), and found a trail that lead toward the volcano. After passing up a large slab of ice, it led to the peak of a hill that obscured most of the glacial face of the mountain from view. After reaching the top of the hill, the view of the mountain was breathtaking. The pictures do no justice. Although it appears we are close enough to touch the ice, there is actually a cliff between us and the mountain, that we couldn't safely maneuver down. There was a demolished small building at the peak of this hill, which appears to be something out of a book. Earlier during our first attempt to take a shortcut to Snæfellsjökull, we were finding random pieces of white-painted wood scattered across the landscape, and had no earthly idea where they came from. This demolished building (presumably by weather) was the source. We took off back down the trail and continued on the off-roads to our most rugged off-road terrain of the trip to access the northern(ish) side of the Snæfellsjökull volcano.
Rocky terrain to the northeast side of Snæfellsjökull
This was the bumpiest ride yet, but our 4x4 was just powerful/big enough to make it to the top of the mountain. This was particularly cool because we were able to walk on some very rough and jagged terrain to make it to the bottom of the epic glacier that's covering the volcano. We were in the middle of nowhere, but met a nice couple from Eastern Europe and took pictures of Amy and me. The vastness of this glacier covering the mountain is an unforgettable memory, as well as the sound of rushing glacier water underneath the slab of ice covering the mountain.
This was the bumpiest ride yet, but our 4x4 was just powerful/big enough to make it to the top of the mountain. This was particularly cool because we were able to walk on some very rough and jagged terrain to make it to the bottom of the epic glacier that's covering the volcano. We were in the middle of nowhere, but met a nice couple from Eastern Europe and took pictures of Amy and me. The vastness of this glacier covering the mountain is an unforgettable memory, as well as the sound of rushing glacier water underneath the slab of ice covering the mountain.
Another trail around Snæfellsjökull National Park
Well, it was still daylight, although sometimes around 9:30pm -- so we decided to walk another trail. This was a lucky choice, as it circled us around an interested set of craters made of volcanic rock with a mix of many different colors. It was so desolate out there, that you really understood the feeling of being absolutely alone in the world.
Well, it was still daylight, although sometimes around 9:30pm -- so we decided to walk another trail. This was a lucky choice, as it circled us around an interested set of craters made of volcanic rock with a mix of many different colors. It was so desolate out there, that you really understood the feeling of being absolutely alone in the world.