{"id":28904,"date":"2022-07-19T03:52:12","date_gmt":"2022-07-18T17:52:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=28904"},"modified":"2023-01-25T08:11:28","modified_gmt":"2023-01-24T21:11:28","slug":"jokulsargljufur-iceland-%f0%9f%87%ae%f0%9f%87%b8-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=28904","title":{"rendered":"J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rglj\u00fafur, Iceland \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf8 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Date: 17th July 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelled: 122 kms from \u00c1sbyrgi to H\u00fasavik via Dettifoss <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visited: J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rglj\u00fafur National Park  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stayed: Camping\u00a0H\u00fasavik, Isk4200, N66.05150, W17.34480<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Budget: 53 days @ \u20ac96 per da<\/strong>y<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A little rain overnight, but the weather has changed once again. A heavy mist has descended over campsite in \u00c1sbyrgi, the forecast is rain and 8\u00b0 tops as it\u2019s already 8\u00b0, we\u2019ve already peaked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00c1sbyrgi is the main entrance to the J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rglj\u00fafur National Park. We have four walks planned in the park today, the first two are within the \u00c1sbyrgi Canyon. So we have breakfast and don the Gortex to firstly walk the top of the canyon walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

The canyon walk starts at its lowest point around 20m high where there\u2019s a track to the top, by the time we walk the 3.5 kms trail the canyon wall is 80m high. Shame about the misty conditions from a photo perspective.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking down on the campsite.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

We return to the Hymer a bit damp having enjoyed the walk and views as best we can. After a second coffee we ready the Hymer for the road once again. The next walk is a 2.5 km loop around the far end of this horseshoe shaped canyon to a small lake called Botnstj\u00f6rn. We drive the Hymer to the carpark (no point walking in the drizzle), don the Gortex once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Botnstj\u00f6rn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
The canyon is 100+ metres above the lake.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

The \u00c1sbyrgi walks done, we drive back out of the canyon turning onto route 862 driving deeper into the national park. 12 kms later we turn for Hlj\u00f3\u00f0aklettar and our third walk of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our guide book recommends the 3 km loop trail that takes in the best basalt formations at Hlj\u00f3\u00f0aklettar. By pure chance we arrive in time to join a guided tour by a park ranger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Hlj\u00f3\u00f0aklettar translates to echo rock in english. The crystallised basalt formation create some amazing sound effects, echoing the sound of rushing water from the nearby river. The guided tour was excellent, lots of local folklore, geology regarding the basalt formations and local flora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Kirk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Our tour of Hlj\u00f3\u00f0aklettar complete we return to the Hymer probably more cold than wet. Cannot get a phone signal to check the temperature, but it\u2019s cold with a wild chill of bloody cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We point the Hymer out of Hlj\u00f3\u00f0aklettar up the steep access road (17\u00b0 is steep in the Hymer) and back onto the 862 continuing south to Dettifoss. It\u2019s another 14kms on to Dettifoss at the southern end of the national park. The road climbs most of the way and the mist is now very heavy, so it\u2019s a slow drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding a spot in the carpark we can hear the falls thundering from a km away. The mist is like a heavy fog anyway but the mist rising from the falls is like a cloud rising into sky. The wind is strong driving the rain almost horizontal. So we Gortex up for hopefully the last time today and go forward to battle the elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n