Lónsöræfi

Lónsöræfi is a remote area tucked into the east side of the Vatnajökull glacier.

The map is from the Nordic Adventure Travel Guide.

When we work there we meet a specialist local driver at Höfn who takes us past Jokulsá í Lóni and into the mountains via a scary river crossing and some very scary and spectacular roads.

Our destination is a hut and campsite in a remote valley along a hiking trail. At the top of the hill overlooking the valley the car can get no further. We have to unload our tools and supplies and carry them the last 2 km. 






Past an ancient and somewhat puzzlingly sited longdrop...




In the foreground, on the far side of the river, is the camp site. The brown building is the shower and toilet block. The Ranger's hut can just be seen at the top of the bank behind, a little to the right.

Here, ICV volunteers are preparing the groundworks for a new septic tank to service the hut. How do they get a big plastic septic tank into a difficult location like this? Easy. They drive it up the river in winter when it's frozen.

















Here a volunteer works with the Ranger to provide steps between the campsite and the hut.





This sheltered site is an oasis in the midst of the sub-glacial gravel. Wildflowers thrive. All the species which are becoming difficult to find back home are here in abundance.

Going for a hike, guided by our Ranger, on our day off. 

Fascinatingly frost-shattered rock.

Running the scree back to the hut. Such fun! Don't get many opportunities to do this these days.

Note:

ICV (Iceland Conservation Volunteers) is the volunteer arm of Umhverfisstofnun, the Environment Agency of Iceland.  For more information about ICV see: 

 http://www.ust.is/the-environment-agency-of-iceland/volunteers