Vatnajökull, Iceland

What is the sport that you crave over and over again?

I feel the need to go skiing every few years and always for as long as possible. The most pleasant thing is to go skiing in a place where there is nothing and no one. The glacier is the best place for that.

In other words, I do ski trips.

Here's a picture appreciation with text from Iceland. A little news about arctic skiing across Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajökull.

You should check out the more detailed day-by-day blog here Open fields from the pages.
There you can find daily weather, trips, feelings and route description.

Welcome to skiing!

………

Before skiing

Hiihto_vatnajökull_1

Flights from Helsinki and directly to the game venues in Iceland. When packing your equipment, you should have a brain storm so that you don't have to pay extra kilos for nothing. Those who go on a trip should take into account the clothes they need and leave in the city. It's nice to change out of your ski clothes when you come back from a run back to civilization.
You should pay attention to the transport of food, skis, snacks, cooking boxes and skiing equipment. Pack the supplies carefully and make sure they can withstand handling. We only bought the fuel for the cookers and some of the dry products for cooking on site.

If you fly in daylight, I recommend sitting on the right side of the plane. The views offer the whole of Iceland and especially our glacier through the binoculars!

Hiihto_vatnajökull_2

In this picture above, the glacier as a whole. Our skiing direction was from east to west. Approaching and leaving by car. A decent 4×4 jeep is the only one that otherwise plays further by the glacier!

Hiihto_vatnajökull_3

The photo shows our awesome group moving into the first accommodations. ??

 

Hiihto_vatnajökull_4

Traveling is nice. Especially in Iceland, the transition to the glacier and the different route away guarantee wonderful landscapes. In Iceland, touring the sights by car is the most sensible way, and for us moving to the starting points did the same thing.

 

Hiihto_vatnajökull_5

 

Hiihto_vatnajökull_6

Departure packing. Piling up the tents by tent municipality. In the picture, Sanni and I clean the boiler box and fill fuel bottles.

 

………..

To the glacier

Moving is by footpath and hoof carrying. You feel that food and gas are included. The equipment is packed in the box in box bags, so that when necessary the box can be emptied or the contents can be carried in parts.

Hiihto_vatnajökull_7

Hiihto_vatnajökull_8

 

Hiihto_vatnajökull_9

The beginning of our glacier. The first few days are done with full gear ascent.

Hiihto_vatnajökull_10

Hiihto_vatnajökull_11

 

Hiihto_vatnajökull_12

Camp life. A typical morning with good weather, when the sleeping bags are airing out after the night. In the meantime, breakfast and preparations for the day.

 

Hiihto_vatnajökull_13

Life is easy in a tent. Our tent gang, me, Minna and Sanni, divided the evening meals into shifts. Honest cooking shifts. Every day, everyone prepared a surprise dinner for the others and the others threw a hip or did snow work. BY THE WAY LUNGIA!!

Hiihto_vatnajökull_14

It's rare, but we went through all the scales. The start was very warm. Can not complain. Let the pictures tell the story ?

Hiihto_vatnajökull_15

 

Hiihto_vatnajökull_16

……

The sun doesn't always shine

If the sun, then wind, snow and fog too. The snow walls were built more than once!!

Hiihto_vatnajökull_17

Hiihto_vatnajökull_18

Hiihto_vatnajökull_19

….

Rest day at the cottage

We had booked a cabin lined with snow. We enjoy the well-deserved time off and the maintenance of the goods. We also had a bath in the volcano-heated sauna. Aye! Feeling quite clean and relaxed, after which we continued skiing.

Hiihto_vatnajökull_20

Hiihto_vatnajökull_21

……

The snow is ending

Way too soon. The glacier has melted and the skiing ended about 4km before our end point. We worked for a day in moving towards the decision place. In front of me I felt sand and rivers. Everything was carried by hand, except for a few nice patches of snow.

Hiihto_vatnajökull_22

Hiihto_vatnajökull_23

Hiihto_vatnajökull_24

Hiihto_vatnajökull_25

Arriving at the end of skiing, maintenance and packing of goods.

 

…….

All good things come to an end!

Have to admit. I'd be happy with a weekly trip in these landscapes and conditions. However, all good things come to an end sometimes and something remains for the next times.

Ps. Muuten avotunturit-peruskursseja on ensi keväällä taas, jos mieli halajaa suksille. 😉  www.avotunturit.fi

Hiihto_vatnajökull_26

Looking towards new adventures. Dream on! Make it happen!

 

Nora Casén