Jökull - 01.01.2020, Page 135

Sturkell and Gudmundsson
In July, Hakon and Erik parted with their travel
companions and travel along the south coast. On 12th
of August, they arrive at the farm ‘Kálfafell’ (Figure
1). They set out towards Síðujökull with their own
horses and horses rented from the farm. All their
equipment was transported up on the glacier and the
sledge was assembled. They returned to Kálfafell in
darkness. An episode from this part of the expedi-
tion is described in Erik’s diary (Morgunblaðið, June
9th and 10th 1920). It says: “On the 24th of Au-
gust the steep climb must be abandoned. One of the
horses just lay down and refused to go any further.
One of the provision crates came loose and rolled
downhill. Luckily, it was not containing the alco-
hol exclaims Ygberg relieved.” On the 27th of Au-
gust they set out with three horses and a sledge from
the base camp established a few days earlier. The
weather was superb when they set out, heading north
(Figure 1). Despite the glacier in the lower parts of
the accumulation area being covered by tephra from
the Katla eruption in October-November 1918, they
made good progress over the ice and they camped at
9 PM. The next day they came into an area with a
thick ash layer and they changed direction due east
and aimed towards Hágöngur (Figure 1). From there
they turned north again and passed Pálsfjall a few
kilometers to the east. They continued on the north-
ward course until reaching an elevation of 1600 me-
ters (Figures 1 and 4), where the course was changed
towards east. The sledge moved along more easily
as the glacier became smother and they made good
progress towards Háabunga (Figure 5). At midday on
the 31st of August fog rolled in but they continued
with Hakon on the sledge with the compass direct-
ing Erik riding the lead horse. The fog got thicker,
and Erik reported he could see only the hooves of
his horse. They still made good progress due east.
Erik also reported he could occasionally smell sul-
fur but he believed this to be his imagination playing
him a prank. Suddenly his horse stopped. Erik had
learned to trust the horses and if a horse refused to
continue it should be taken seriously. He got down
Figure 4. Photograph taken in the area where Erik and Hakon changed course and headed eastwards (see Fig-
ure1), with Hamarinn to the right and Kerlingar to the left. This photograph was published as Figure 10 in
Wadell (1920). – Mynd tekin ofarlega á Tungnaárjökli á þeim stað þar sem þeir félagar breyttu stefnunni til
austurs (10. mynd í grein Wadell, 1920).
Figure 5. This photograph was taken on the route up to Háabunga after turning to the east. Þórðarhyrna can be
seen at the horizon. – Ljósmynd úr ferð Erik og Hakon, Þórðarhyrna í fjarska.
132 JÖKULL No. 70, 2020