We started our walk this morning visiting the Islandic Down factory that is housed in a small building in central Borgarfjordur. The business purchases down from farmers who collect the feathers from ducks after they leave their nests. The total amount of this type of down retrieved in the world is 4,000 kilos a year of which 3,000 kilos come from Iceland and specifically this region. It is hard to imagine the volume associated with this weight. A bowlful felt as light as a balloon filled with air. This down is worth exponentially more than gold by weight. A standard pillow with a “soft” feel is USD$3,500. Pillows and duvets are custom made to the buyer’s specification. Sharon asked me if I ordered a pillow. On this one, I passed. Below is photo of a bowlful of this down.
From here, we were taken up to a parking lot at the mountain pass that opened this area for tourism and business. The trailhead’s path was intended to guide us to an area below the opposite side of the mountain shown in the photograph. The immediate elevation gain on the trail was over 1,000 feet. What also characterized this hike was that rocks of all sizes were around us — on the paths, in the streams, clustered in wide areas, and strewn on barren surfaces.
On the way up, I took a photograph of Julia (with attitude). We had stopped partway up. Julia is leaning on a trail marker (yellow) showing that our goal was to reach Storuro, a cluster of rocks at the base of the mountain (opposite side) shown the picture above.
Besides Julia, you will find a photo of the group reaching the highest point on this trail. At this location, we were 65•70” North latitude less than one degree south from the Arctic Circle.
At the top, we posed for a group photo in which we were order left (youngest, 26) to right (oldest, 81) We later found out that Laird was the oldest person so far to be on these Eastern Iceland treks with Mike. After conducting more than 60 tours over three years. Laird holds the record. The previous record was 79.
Another shows Laird playing with a snowball made from ice still frozen on the mountain. To give perspective on our descent into the valley, our band of hikers traversed rock fields and several streams in our path. When we reached our destination, we all sat amongst the rocks of the rock pool enjoying our lunches and the sun. It was 1 PM.
We were good to go at 1:30. Instead of retracing our steps over the mountain, Mike decided to take us down the valley to meet the main road. This path was no “gimme.” We had to walk carefully to avoid the rocks in our paths and we crossed chasms and streams flowing from the waterfalls.
About three-quarters of the way through the valley, we saw rain clouds in the distance. It was around 4 PM. We picked up the pace and made it to our pickup point almost unscathed. We did stand in a light rain for five minutes waiting for Mike and an associate to bring the vehicles down to this meeting point (elevation loss of over 1,500 feet). With the rains came a reward when we returned to our base camp. We saw a rainbow across the fjord from our town as the same storm that wet us swept across to the east.
Dinner ended and eight of us met Mike at the local brewery. We thanked Mike for being a wonderful guide. Afterwards, I began writing this blog and ended by admiring an almost sunset at 11:45. I am still awe struck by the light and its colors at this time of night.
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