Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.09.2023, Side 38

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2023
38
A hike is nothing more than a
walk on a mountain. Sure, you’ll
become out of breath and your
legs will ache, but there is a cer-
tain charm standing on top of a
mountain that wasn’t made for
wandering humans. And once
back down, you can proudly
point at that mountain and say
“Look! I was there.”
A word of warning
Don’t let anybody tell you that we
city folks can’t hike. We sure can
and we won’t let you escape a con-
versation without telling you we
once – almost – jogged up Esja. I
mean, have you seen my Strava
profile? I could definitely do it.
Luckily, going on a hike near
the capital area doesn’t require
too much forward planning as
most of the mountains in our
backyard are relatively safe, with
well-maintained trails. You’ll be
able to finish these in less than
six hours – that’s including trav-
el time.
While these hikes are ac-
cessible, they rely on common
sense and slight preparedness.
Check the forecast ahead of time
and listen to your gut. Are you
sure you want to hike when the
Met Office has issued a weath-
er warning? (Don’t do it.) Dress
in layers, bring water, food and
snacks.
Factor in that the weather up
on a mountain may be different
than conditions on the ground.
The Icelandic weather is noto-
rious for changing from a clear,
blue sky to thundering rain.
Most importantly, leave no trace
and pick up after yourselves.
Having said that, let’s take
a look at some popular hikes
around the capital area.
Esja: The Queen
of Reykjavík
There’s not a child in Reykjavík
that doesn’t know where Esja is.
The mountain acts as a sort of
watcher over the city, as it can
be seen from almost anywhere
in town. According to lore, this
is the home of the mischievous
yule lads and their slightly more
sinister parents and cat.
Because of its short distance
from the capital and its impres-
sive height, Esjan is one of the
most popular hiking trails in
the area. Elevation gain from
the trailhead to the most com-
mon destination, the boulder
aptly named “Steinn,” lends you
about 600 metres in elevation.
The roundtrip is approximately
seven kilometres. During clear
weather, it is possible to hike
slightly farther, to Þverfellshorn.
That extra route won’t add too
much to your trip – you’ll clearly
see the peak from Steinn, but it
requires some climbing and the
assistance of bolted-on chains.
As Esjan is accessible from
CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN
Reaching The Sky
A how-to guide to hikes around Reykjavík
Words: Jóhannes Bjarkason & Jón Trausti Sigurðarson
Photo: Joana Fontinha & Atli Arnarson