"Hiking Skogar to Thorsmork (Part I)" Rangárvallasÿsla by mplessers

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Our two store apparment for 11 people...

At 8AM our Belgian guide does the wake-up call. He has already ran 10km before waking us.
After having breakfast we can put the tents in our backpacks, adding up to about 20kg. In the meantime we can see the partial solar-eclips (through the clouds)... knowing that in Belgium the eclips is almost 100%.
One bag with items we don't need on the trek is placed at the bus-stop, so it dropped of at Skaftafell. And then it's time... to climb. The path follows the river Skoga and one waterfall after the other is giving us a distraction from the fact that
we are bringing a week of supplies to a altitude of 1000m. After crossing a small bridge we arrive at the 4WD track... the green nature is replaced by a black and white landscape (rock and ice). Fog and rain not only limits the view, it also
makes us to decide to spent the night in the emergency-cabin.
With out group the number of people increases tenfold... only
one German was here (doing the trip in the other direction).
During diner we have a great view over the area (and even can see the ocean)... but afterwards clouds are packing and we will stay for the night.
The advantage odf dried food is that it's easy to prepare: boils some water, add the pouder, wait 8 minutes, and ready. Yummy... if you're hungry it even tastes good...
A french couple has driven there 4WD up to here and are staying here as well (in there car)... and Karin succeeds in getting a whole bottle of Scots Whisky for hour group... and we that that there was no alcohol in these huts :-)
It's a rainy night, and we're all glad we are not sleeping in the tents.

Heading to Thorsmork

Rise at 7:30, quick breakfast and at 9AM we are walking again. It's still foggy and rainy. There is even a rather strong wind, but that is blowing in our back. We have to climb the last meters (since we didn't do them yesterday), cross some snowfield between the glaciers.
After a steep decent we get out of the clouds and can see the green valley of Thorsmork (and both glaciers). Some passage are even secured with a rope.
Just after the noon we arrive at the bottom of the valley, so it's time to have a lunch break. Now we only need to cross a whole lot of rivers and streams to get to the campsite. When the showers are opened (2.5 EUR for 5 minutes of hot water), we need to take a number to queue before the cabins.
After the refreshing shower it's time to warm our pasta dish. In the meantime a bus of Austrians is taking over the campsite... what a
stange sight to see people with Samsonite cases to crowl in there
tents...
Just before sunset we go up a hill to have a great view over the surroundings: glaciers, mountains, rivers, ... I could stay here for hours... Back at our tent we have a last cup of thee and a piece of pie (a gift from the Austrians, we must have a hungry look?).