GOP-Xcursions: Exotic winter!

A
GOP-excursion
into the interior
of Iceland in
wintertime
is truly a
Grand
Overland
Project
of the
Exotic North

The Exotic Winter!

< ..awaiting hut!

A GOP-excursion!!

Such a venture may be described in many words - but here we have gathered some pictures that will mostly speak for themselves. They are sporadic because the main filming policy is making videos - although very often - when hands are full with problems to solve - the cameras are completely forgotten.

Table of
content

The weather
The size of the group:
A single car - Three cars - More cars
Sights to see
Open rivers
Huts and houses
The people

The
weather

Every type of weather makes it's difference. In midwinter we can have no snow at all and we can have it one meter deep all over - and two or three in the highland. The temperature can be plus 12 and it can be minus 25 degrees on Celsius. The Sun may sail the clear sky even if it cannot be seen from the Thorsmork area for two months in midwinter - and another day the visibility may be less than 10 meters - in a snowstorm.

Each type of a weather has it's unique effect on the surroundings that turnes every trip into an inevitable success.

The
size of
the group:

A
single
car

A single-car excursion demands much legwork in checking the track and every stream for unsuspected obstacles.

< Glad that others were around
In a single car you have to be extra careful and be prepared to wait for needed help and waiting can take from 3 to 8 hours if circumstances are not of the worst kind.

The
size of
the group:

Three
cars

and
then
some
more ..

< The second car makes a significant difference
Three is in many aspects an optimal number. Two of the cars may be stuck in the track at the same time and the third one heaves them free. Such a team can cut down most of the legwork as cautious driving hardly gets the car so badly stuck that another car wont free it quickly. This means that a group of three cars travels faster - even if the speed sometimes is very low - even very slow!

< Two cars following the tracks of the third crossing a snow-filled river. Snow is blowing in the wind. The man looks at a break in the snow-bridge caused by the first car.

< Driving northwards on top of glacier Hofsjokull.

When the expedition is well organized and smoothly coordinated the threesome-advantage holds for up to 5 or 7 cars

The
size of
the group:

More
cars ...

< Lined up for fording a river
The more the number of cars increases the more a clearcut organization and coordination is called for.

< A stop - for a short uphill walk ..

< .. visiting a valley .. < or just enjoying life!

Managing such a group must account for matters like getting information to every car and even subdivide the lot into groups of five that operate within the frame of a general supervision. The main object is to make the trip into an experience of adventure and thrill within safe limits such that each participant will appreciate and re-live again and again his dear memories of this grand overland project.

Sights
to see

Glowing
lava on
erupting
volcano
Mt. Hekla

And
suddenly
there
is a
waterfall!

,, and another
hidden in the
canyon.

The red
craters
alongside
Iceland's
greatest
glacier:
the Vatna-
jokull.

< Rivers to be forded >

< Natural monuments. * < Magnificent views >

< Sunrise

Sunrise and sunset last for two hours each from mid-November to mid-January. When the sky comes clear from the night the sun announces the day playing all tunes of red on the mountaintops and the snowy hillsides until she is up low above the horizon a little bit east of south.

< A short days journey into night

< Sunset

About two hours later that color-symphony is startet anew backwards into night.

A GOP-xcursion is a journey through weather and winter having sights and views and eventful time and tranquil moments. A project that builds longlasting memories you will revisit for years to come.

Open
rivers

Searching for
a ford

The ford is
marked

and the cars
are on
their way.

< View across Markarfljot to Thorsmork in front of the glaciers.

As you leave the main road circling the island you should better be prepared for the open waters. If you intend to visit the highlands you will have to ford streams and rivers.

< Fording the Markarfljot in a good day with low waters.

< Searching for a possible way - the riverbed may solve the problem.

< A singular mode of crossing the river Krossa - just for this picture and to catch your attention! Every other time the standard is: only one car at a time!

Huts
and
houses

The hut
Ingolfs-
skali north
of glacier
Hofsjokull

The 4x4-Club's
house at the
glacier
Hofsjokull.

The hut at
Mt. Miklafell

Iceland's Touring Club's huts in
Hveravellir >

Thorsmork >

In Iceland there are mainly two touring associations that have been building huts and houses in the wilderness for travellers to use. Mostly those are solid buildings and well equipped and can be used according to certain rules.

* < The Jökulheimar hut of Iceland Glaciological Society

The farmers in the various parts of the country must find their sheep every autumn and therefore they also have built special huts to stay in during the roundup. Owners of trout- and salmon-catching rights have joined in associations that also have huts and cabins for rent along with permission to use the rod in the catching season. These can also be used in concord with the owners.

< A four-bed-cabin owned by a trout-fishing association

If you are interested you can - on this website - find a detailed Icelandic list of such huts and houses, their exact position, name of owner, size - and often the price of the bed.

The
people

At the fire