Day 7 - Laugavegur: Botnar/Emstrur to Þórsmörk
More canyons today, with the magnificent Eyjaffjallajökull an ever-present backdrop. I often tire towards Day 6 when hiking without a break, but we have had a rest day in Landmannalaugar and there is just so much to see. Each new vista draws us onwards.
Today we’d go to Porsmork but detour to stay the night at Volcano Huts at Hasduladar rather than Langidalur: a hot shower, not to mention the bar, beckons!
But first plenty of streams to cross...
…With Mýrdalsjökull as our backdrop.
We occasionally drop to near the water’s edge,
but Entujökull nearly always stays in view.
Crossing at Fremri-Emstrua
An undulating path across the plain.
Closer to the glacier - come on Helen, a freshly brewed hot coffee is calling me!
A rest, looking across to Wild Boar Rock.
We’ve been tracking alongside the main arm of the Markarfljót River all day, every now and then nearing the edge.
Beautiful grasses and sedges.
And wild thyme. It has been dotted along almost the entire trek, often on bare ground.
After crossing a tributary, the river Þröngá, we are completely surprised to enter a lovely birch forest.
We have chosen to detour via Volcano Huts, rather than going straight to Langidalur Huts. A lovely sheltered, grassy campground with ….
… a natural hot pool, hot showers, a spa and a PROPER RESTAURANT and a BAR!!!! It’s expensive, but we have been eating home dehydrated meals almost exclusively, so can afford to splurge!
Geoff gets his coffee and we go to bed tired but looking forward to the start of the Fimmvorduhals Trail tomorrow.