Iceland Day 4 – Akureyri, Dalvik to Grettislaug, a day on the road

March 29.

Left in the morning the beautiful wild camping spot North of Grevinik towards Akureyri. I was looking forward to a coffee in a nice cafe with decent internet access.

At 9.30am in Akureyri, I walked the streets for a bit. The second biggest town or city of Iceland still felt like in hibernation. I found an open bookstore, checked books and settled with coffee and cake for their internet. Iceland feels small and the tourists are still limited – ran into Luise first and Herbert and his wife later in the same bookstore.

I came to Iceland mainly for the nature and open landscapes, so I hit the roads again up North on the Western side of the same fjord.

Is I drove up the coast towards Dalvik, situation got more and more snowy. The Tunnels on the road around Olafsjoerdur and Siglufjoerdur are special. They just have one lane and every two hundred meters or so a stop to let oncoming traffic past. With every tunnel passed, the roads were more covered with snow.

Soundtrack for today’s driving: Pink Floyd – Coming back to life

Heading back South on the other side, I came by Hofsoes. Checked up the swimming pool which looked nice open to the sea, but it would only open in the later afternoon. Since Herbert had recommended Grettislaug, I decided to drive all the way to the Grettislaug hotpot and camping place.

Passed Saudarkrokur, there was a bit less snow.

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Made it at 5pm with a starting snowstorm to the hotpot and camping place around Grettislaug. Did a quick check on the facilities, but stayed in the car for the night. No hotpot in the middle of a snowstorm. Parked on the wind protected side of a cabin.

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Photo is taken the next morning after the snowstorm.

Despite the storm, had a good night even with Northern lights showing after 10pm!

Day 98 – From Burney Falls to tentsite, mile 1441

July 27.

Got up 5.30am, left camp 6am. My tent was covered in ash this morning.

Took some photos of the beautiful Burney Falls, on trail 6.45am.

With the good start, I made my usual 10 miles by 10am. Getting water at Screwdriver creek, running into bigger group of hikers. Flower also there.

With 14 miles at 12pm, took a lunch break at Peavine creek.

Thinking about how many miles I wanna do today. It’s hot again and not as flat as the last days.

Song of the day: Herbert Grönemeyer – Wunderbare Leere

The landscape varied a bit, especially the trees. But the haze caused by the nearby forest fires remained the whole day.

I saw the group with Flower several times – they were aiming at a 28 miles campground. Too much for me… But it’s either 21 miles or 28 miles with water or dry camping in between.

It’s funny – I ended up as being one of the first to pitch my tent around mile 24 – all others moved by first and then ended up camping just hundred feet further.

Walking in the twilight all day caused by the smoke isn’t easy.

The night turned out to be good since it was cool, maybe due to the exposed location on a saddle and the altitude of 5200 feet.

Day 84 – From Lacey Creek to Sierra City, 1195

July 13.

Got an early start at 6.20am – good. Rested enough for another long day. We will be aiming for 10 before 10am, 15 by 1pm and as early as possible 23 miles to hit Sierra City before the store and restaurants close.

We made 9.8 at 10am – not bad. The morning took us over some hills with amazing views again – this wide open landscape doesn’t stop to amaze.

Fitting soundtrack for today:

Holocene – Bon Iver

We completed 15 miles by 12.45pm – check. 👍🏻😁

Came into town/general store 5.35pm, the general store was still open but their burgers were not available anymore – they had closed the kitchen at 5.30pm – what a disappointment.

Sierra City – General store and post office

Bought snacks and realized that the little town was completely booked out. No room, no shower, no laundry?

We camped next to the church with twenty other hikers – a very crowded spot that night. There was a public bathroom with a cold shower available – I skipped. 😂

Ok – with all that frustration we spend quite some money on a decent dinner with wine.

Probably the best dinner since months…

Day 71 – From tentsite to tentsite, mile 989

June 30.

I woke up at 5.45am as usual. It was a bit windy at night – sleeping with one vestibule door open as usual, I had a nice fresh breeze in my tent.

Good day. Quick climb of the remaining 1000 feet.

Song of the day: Queen – Don’t stop me now

Lunch stop after crossing a river at mile 982.

Chatting with DownDog, Yogi and Financial Analyst we met during the break.

Just watching nature and wildlife happening around.

Hiking on. Lots of mosquitoes. Pitched tents around 6.30pm on some rocks hoping for less mosquitoes…

Nice dinner with Mountain House, last Crystal Light. Celebrating tomorrow’s 1000 miles marker.

Day 59 – From Tentsite at mile 826 to Tentsite short before Muir Pass, mile 836

June 18.

Since we only wanted to approach Muir pass, we could afford a slow morning. Woke up short before 7am, was greeted by a deer standing right next to my tent.

Hit the trail 8.30am. Saw many deers on the trail. Ascend towards Muir pass starts slowly.

No traveler, whether a tree lover or not, will ever forget his first walk in a sugar-pine forest. The majestic crowns approaching one another make a glorious canopy, through the feathery arches of which the sunbeams pour, silvering the needles and gilding the stately columns and the ground into a scene of enchantment.
– John Muir

Break at a river rock bed. Beautiful.

Lunch break around 12pm at Big Pete meadow, mile 833, 9200 feet.

Hiking to the last listed tentsite at 11000 feet at mile 836 – just 2 miles and 900 feet altitude away from the pass. This will put us in a good position to go over the pass early avoiding too much snow melting and with that postholing.