Reykjavík Grapevine - 29.07.2011, Qupperneq 64

Mountaineers of Iceland • Skútuvogur 12E • 104 Reykjavík • Iceland
Telephone: +354 580 9900 Ice@mountaineers.is • www.mountaineers.is • www. activity.is
SUPER JEEP & SNOWMOBILE TOURS
While driving through the South of
Iceland one’s mind will inevitably
wander to that whole Eyjafjalla-
jökull eruption event of last April,
which greatly affected many of the
farmers in the areas one will drive
through, as well as halting Europe-
an air traffic for a while (get over it
already). Signs of the eruption and
its ash plume are still to be seen,
and also every gas station and pylsa
hut in the area is inevitably flogging
vials of ash and Eyjafjallamadjaddla
t-shirts in an attempt to monetise.
Volcanic eruptions are powerful and
awe inspiring and often incredibly de-
structive— and, as we’ve been finding
out in Iceland lately, they can also bring
out the entrepreneur in folks. Iceland-
ers are often faced with making the best
out of a bad situation (like their politi-
cians), and thus the devastation caused
by the Eyjafjallajökull eruption has in-
spired some of those who suffered from
it to try and create something new out
it, so as to recoup some of the damages
A case in point is the ‘Eyjafjalla-
jökull Erupts’ Visitor Centre, which
was created and is operated by the fam-
ily that inhabits the close-by Þorvald-
seyri farm (note: it is the farm under
the giant ash plume in one of the most
famous eruption photos from last year).
They got right to work after the erup-
tion, opening up this exhibit on its one-
year anniversary (on April 14 of this
year).
Right by the Ring Road, the cen-
tre offers drivers-by and tourists the
chance to experience last year’s erup-
tion through colourful graphics, photos
and text that explains the local volcanic
system and tells the story of Eyjafjalla-
jökull 2010. The crux of the exhibit is
likely the showing of a twenty-minute
long documentary on the eruption and
the resulting clean-up.
There is also a shop, where one can
stock up on all sorts of eruption-related
memorabilia as well as purchase goods
and produce from the Þorvaldseyri
farm (they grow, among other things,
barley and wheat, which is very rare in
Iceland).
If you weren’t there to witness the
eruption first-hand, the visitor centre is
likely a fair and efficient way to experi-
ence and learn about that truly grandi-
ose event.
Admission 800 ISK, free for children under 12
The Eyjafjallajökull Erupts Visitor Centre is
located right on Route 1, and is 140 km east
of Reykjavík. Open from 09:00–18:00 from
June–August, see www.icelanderupts.is for fur-
ther info.
Cash, Not Ash
Eyjafjallajökull is finally making someone some of the former
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The South and the EastIS
OUTSIDE REYKJAVÍK
While travelling in the south of Ice-
land, Skógar, right by The Ring Road,
is a must-visit destination. The majestic
waterfall Skógafoss is a sight to behold
and is positively awe-inspiring in its
sheer size and volume (it is also really
loud, which is nice). A stairway up the
mountain has been constructed next
to the waterfall, and the short hike up
there will provide splendid views of the
fall and the surrounding scenery (seen
from above, the herd of tourists cavort-
ing around there is reduced to bevy of
f luorescent dots, which is nice).
Many visitors to Skógar might not
realise that it also marks the starting
point of one of Iceland’s most popular
hikes, which takes you from Skógar
through the Fimmvörðuháls mountain
pass all the way to beautiful Þórsmörk.
The well-marked path is 26 km long
and can be done in a single day if one
is packed lightly, but the Útivist travel
association also operates a comfortable
mountain hut on the way, which may be
booked in advance for a more leisurely
jaunt through the pass.
The hiking trail will take you over
a newly formed lava field, which was
created by the Fimmvörðuháls/Eyjaf-
jallajökull eruption of 2010, and it is
reportedly an interesting sensation to
walk over the still-warm lava.
As we hiked the beginnings of
the trail on our short stop at Skógar,
we had to use all our willpower not to
carry on the entire way. If you go there,
you’ll understand. And when you get to
Þórsmörk, you’ll know. You just will.

NOTE: Hiking the Fimmvörðuháls path should
be done with extreme caution, and only after
heavy research. If you plan on doing it, play it
safe at all times, and make sure someone knows
of your whereabouts and plans.
Take A Hike
On Some Hot
Lava
Really, it’ll be fun
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The Eastfjords of Iceland are beau-
tiful and fun to visit; with a rich his-
tory, a mild climate (it sometimes
even gets ‘hot’ there during sum-
mer—‘feels like 35°C’) and heaps of
natural beauty and majestic moun-
tain ranges one could spend weeks
there cavorting between fjords and
running up steep mountain hills.
Established in 1947, Egilsstaðir is likely
Iceland’s youngest rural municipal-
ity. It lies inland, on the banks of lake
Lagarf ljót (where Nessie’s cuz, Lagar-
f ljótsormurinn, likes to hang out) and
serves as a service hub for surrounding
towns like Reyðarfjörður, Seyðisfjörður,
Neskaupsstaður, etc. With its popula-
tion of around 2500, this young town
is the largest municipality in the East
and quite unique for its youth and lack
of local history (even though the area it
stands is rife with history).
You will stop there while in the East.
It has a nice and large tourist centre
(with free coffee!), a pool, a camping
ground, a gas station, some museums
and shops; everything you could ask for
in small town Iceland.
There is a charm about Egilsstaðir’s
newness, and the fact that it connects
you to some of the most beautiful and
unique places in Iceland ensures that
any serious tourist to Iceland will pay
a visit. Stop there, even camp overnight
there, but by all means move on to see
the rest of the magnificent East.
Young Money:
‘Recently founded’ Egilsstaðir is the hub that connects the East of Iceland
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