Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.03.2017, Qupperneq 56

Island Life
Weird & Wonderful News From Around Iceland
Words: Paul Fontaine
Things To Do Outside Reykjavík
A man in Mosfellsbær is fight-
ing for his right to
keep chickens.
He contends he
has little time or need for
Iceland’s bureaucratic
red tape regarding the
keeping of chickens, but
his neighbours have had
enough of the constant dis-
ruption of his
crowing roosters.
People in the Westfjords simply cannot stop feeding
ravens. The beloved corvid is being provided all
manner leavings and carrion, but such stuff also at-
tracts dogs, seagulls and rats. People are advised to
leave only “one meal’s worth” of food for ravens, to
prevent attracting less desirable animals.
A greenhouse in Fellabær in northeast
Iceland has had a bumper crop of wasa-
bi plants. Amazingly, over 95% of what is
sold as “wasabi” in Iceland is actually a
blend of horseradish, mustard and food
coloring. With this harvest, Icelanders
can now rest assured they are getting
authentic wasabi with their sushi.
56The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 03 — 2017
Hike:
Helgafell
(in Hafnarfjörður)
Helgafell in Hafnarfjörður is one
of at least seven mountains in
Iceland with that name. Helgafell
is safe to hike all year round, al-
though the ascent can be icy and
difficult—bordering on danger-
ous—in the winter. In those condi-
tions, hiking around the Helgafell
area is just as nice. If the path is
open, an easy one-hour ascent to
the 338m summit will reward you
with a staggeringly good view. JTS
Activity:
Sólheimajökull
Ice Hike
Most visitors to Iceland want to
get a closer look at the magnifi-
cent glaciers. One of the easiest
ways to get on the ice is a hike
at Solheimajökull, a long glacier
tongue that almost reaches Route
One on the South Coast. You can
pre-book at gpv.is/icehike or just
rock up and join one of the regular
trips. Note: you’ll need the guide,
and the crampons, so don’t go
alone. JR
Visit:
Þórsmörk
This one isn’t for the faint of heart.
Þórsmörk is a valley behind Eyjaf-
jallajökull on the southern coast,
unreachable in a normal road car
due to the ever-shifting Krossá
river. There’s not much there: the
Volcano Huts, mountains, hiking
trails, and a sprawling, almost un-
touched wilderness. But hey. May-
be that kind of “nothing” is exactly
what you’re looking for. Buses
leave from Reykjavík daily. JR
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