May 2011: Backcountry skiing in Iceland

We went backcountry skiing in North West Iceland, in Hornstrandir. Since the 1950s all farmers have left since the living conditions were too harsh. There is little grassland and the weather is changing a lot.

Impression of Reykjavik

Vikings in Reykjavik

The fisherman brought us from town (ca 2000 inhabitants) towards nomans land: since 1950s there are no humans living permanently in Hornstrandir. So we took food for 8-9 days and took off in the silance of nature, fjords, birds and snow.

Not just humans are enjoying themselves here

Pitching your tent in the middle of nowhere, backcountry skiing until the sea, nice fjord, beautiful snowfields around you and a soft spot for your tent with plenty of great water.

One of the southern fjords of Hornstrandir

Hornvik. We were welcomed by a beautiful rainbow

Enjoying Hornstrandir

Enjoying breakfast in front of the emergency shelter. It appeared that the polar bear had just been a few km from there... while we were enjoying the play of the zeehonden

The beautiful waterfalls, which meant: river crossing!! brrrr

The play of the clouds, the fjords, the snow, the company, the surroundings: just perfect

Enjoying Iceland

Our fisherman who had dropped us in Hornstrandir, spotted a polar bear in the area where we were back country skiing. Result: they shot the polar bear and checked its stomach on some Dutch tourists...

Lots of fish, which are being dried in a house special made to dry fish. In Dutch we call it 'stokvis' which is a very appropriate name for fish drying on a stick.

From Pingeyri you had a beautiful view towards the 'mountains' of Iceland. One really had the impression to be looking at 3-4000ers whereas the mountains were just ca 700 m high

The beautiful lighthouse of Flatey

Flatey, the very tiny island on the Island of Iceland. We were really wondering why the ferry was stopping here, except for entertaining some children living there.

Leaving Flatey with the ferry we passed some beautiful basalt stones for which Iceland is well known

Approaching the neat Stykkisholmur

From Stykkisholmur to Grundarfjördur you have a beautiful drive through lava fields, little mountains mirroring in the water, and small villages along the coast

The Kirkjufell - the symbol of Grundarfjördur - 463m - some say it is the most beautiful mountain in Iceland. Although it is a nice one we did not agree on this view.

The best trips are those which you do not plan: we saw the vulcano Snaefellsjökul, we saw the weather, we saw the snow and decided to go up there with our skis: wonderful wonderful!!

We saw the sunset (around midnight) and the sunrise (around 4 in the morning)... from a beautiful little bungalow

The view from the Snaefelsjökul vulcano

After climbing ca 1100 m we reached this strangely formed but beautiful cone which we called the 'buddha'.

The view from the the vulcanic Snaefellsjökul, early morning. The sea is surrounding the vulcano and the vulcano can be seen from Reykjavik

Skiing down from the Vulcanic Snaefellsjökull (1446m) towards the sea...

looking to Borgarnes from Hvanneyri where we found after long searching the shop with the typical Icelandic wool pullovers

Instead of the touristic blue lagoon we went to Reykjanes with the Gunnuhver hot spring