Now it is time to on a glacier hike, this was the day I had been waiting for so long, I couldn't even imagine how it is to walk on a glacier. This glacier hike will come in 2 part series because I have too many photos of this I wish to share with you all.
This is the only guided tour on Iceland I bought and the reason is really simple. First, I didn't have the equipment to go on this hike and going without proper tools means certain death for you. Secondly, it think the experience is much better when someone actually describes the process and everything relevant.
It was scheduled for 9.30 AM when we needed to be at the location to meet our group and our guide. Our group wasn't big( 8 people). Our guide explained that he won't go with bigger groups on these hikes because its hard to be responsible for everyone and look over they don't do anything that puts lives in danger. There are hikes with big groups as well but these are short ones(1.5h) and they don't go far where it gets dangerous. Of course, I and my GF chose to go on a full hike(5h) to get the full experience of the glacier and of course, this wasn't cheap(150euros) if you are planning to take this hike. Didn't care, we weren't there to cheap out. One more thing, we booked the spot several months ahead, because there aren't many places on the list.
Falljökul, the glacier we were about to hike
Doesn't look that huge? well, the picture doesn't describe this as it really is. It takes over 11 hours to get to the very top.
Our hiking equipment:
- Helmets, there may be falling ice chunks.
- Ice ax, you can carve stairs with it and extreme cases stop you from skidding down +for holding balance on steep places.
3)Hiking boots are necessary + crampons (the sharp thing that goes on your boots) - Harness and rope.
- Some food supply.
- Water and windproof clothing.
- Sunglasses are optional but recommended because it may get pretty bright when the sun reflects from ice.
Our guide had many many more equipment with him.
Place where we went on the glacer
The first part wasn't very hard to walk. The terrain was pretty smooth and it wasn't that steep, tiring nevertheless.
So what is Glacier? Some of you might ask. Glacier is a river of ice slowly moving downwards from the top of the mountain due to accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles.
Not everywhere where snow falls in the mountains cant produce moving glaciers. Necessary is much precipitation( rain and snow) and it is essential that temperature goes above freezing point so snow melts and then freezes when the temperature drops up there. Over many years so much ice forms that it starts to move down from the mountain and that's how glacier forms. Ice that moves down from the side of the mountain may be decades old.
Fun fact: Glacier ice melts much slower due to much bigger ice crystals than usual ice.
Falljökull gets as high as 1400 meters above sea level. This is a fastest moving glacier in Iceland, If I'm not mistaken, it moves 1meter every day because it's so steep. You can actually hear glacier moving under your feet, kinda creepy. This is not unusual that new cracks can form during your stay on the glacier. The best way I can describe glacier moving is like thunder sound that's not very close.
This is the highest point we went, terrain already got very rugged and very steep. There was no way we could go any further without special ropes and climbing equipment, maybe next time!
There are many waterfalls of ice melting water around. We were told that if we fell in some of the waterfalls or caves, you will slide into tunnels and you will be lost forever, there is no way to rescue anybody, even more, you will get hypothermia in 10 minutes and you will die faster than any rescue team will even reach there.
One more fun fact: You can't live off the water that comes from waterfalls and glacier ice melting because this water is 100% pure, there are no essential salts in the water your body needs to stay alive. This doesn't mean this water is all useless, this still temporarily helps but after a week of consuming only this water, you will be dead.
Our awesome guide, he is from Chile and spends his summers in the polar circle guiding hikes, awesome job!
Stay tuned for the part 2 of the glacier trip!
