Laugavegur, Hiking Trail in Iceland - Day 2

 

After months of intensive research on my thesis, I finally got time to write "day 2", though several months have passed since "day 1". 😓

Finally I've graduated. 🎉 So let me keep on recoding my journey.

Laugavegur - Itinerary of Day 2

• Start & End / Direction: From Hrafntinnusker to Álftavatn / North to South
• Distance: About 12 km
• Time:
  • Official: 4 to 5 hr
  • Actual: About 5 hr (08:50 - 13:50, Aug. 30, 2023)
• Descent: About 470 - 500 m (Altitude 1066 - 554 m)
• Route: Hrafntinnusker - Álftavatn
• Weather: Bit rainy to cloudy

Time Table of Day 2 of Laugavegur

• 08:50 Departed from Hrafntinnusker
• 13:50 Arrived at Álftavatn

Tracks of Day 2 of Laugavegur

Track of Laugavegur in day2, ups and downs all the way, descending overall / Img: Self-recorded track on the screen of the Taiwanese App "Journal in the Woods"

Laugavegur - Day 2

I had some "gomoku mixed rice" (5-ingredients) of Onisi, a Japanese brand, for the breakfast on the 2nd day. I found it delicous. Something tasting like pickled radish increased my appetite.

I started hiking at about 8:50. It was cloudy and a bit rainy. 

According to the wardens of the hut, it was forecast to be about 2 to 3 degrees.

Weatherforecast of Hrafntinnusker on Aug. 30, 2023 / Photo: Yun (Me)

(I was glad that Iceland uses Celsius, which is the same as Taiwan. 😊)

I hung my camera on my shoulder all the time. The rain was little enough that I only had to wrap it with a plastic bag sometimes.

My face was dry and I didn't have to put on my rain skirt. 

I think people have to be most careful of the trail on day 2, because there are many short but steep downslopes.

Well, just find a slope that you're comfortable with and get down.

The steep downslope at the ravine on day 2 of Laugavegur / Photo: Yun (Me)

I took this picture after getting down the ravine.

You can see there was a clear trail, yet someone (right in the picture) managed to get down on some other route.

The sand / dirt here was a bit slippery, but not so much as dry leaves where you just slide down. And there was not vegetation to grab.

I remember I sit myself down the slope anyway.

Ravines after ravines, so ups and downs and ups and downs. Some could be bypassed, so no needs to climb upwards.

Thankfully the height was only about 2 to 3 stories, so not too scary.

The spectacular view on day 2 of Laugavegur / Photo: Yun (Me)

The views of Laugavegur change all the way. They are really breathtaking.

But I feel like it was too soon for me to explore this beautiful place, that so far I don't have any other hiking goals! (Probably because I'm out of money, too.)

On day 2 it was foggy once, so I couldn't see the sign (pole), and then I walked to some edge of a cliff, finding no proper way down.

It was quite obvious that there was no trail ahead. If I had taken the risk, I might have broken my neck.

Hence, I went back with a hiker to find the right way, and we found it. We just missed it at first.

The black and white hill in Laugavegur / Photo: Yun (Me)

I barely stopped for rest, but stopped to take pictures.

I drank water and ate snacks while I was hiking, because I was used to non-stop hiking, and because it was cold!

Thanks to the long day and short night, people can really take their time hiking slowly.

Some little white flowers in the valley of Laugavegur / Photo: Yun (Me)

Laugavegur the breathtaking trail / Photo: Yun (Me)

In the following picture, when I walked to the place where I could see the view below, I felt so touched. Although the weather was not that beautiful, the magnificence was overwhelming.

I think this was the most beautiful place on day 2! 🥺

Hut of day 2 lies on the edge of Lake Álftavatn ahead. / Photo: Yun (Me)

If you need something to compare with to understand the scale, in the picture above there is a hiker with a blue backpack ahead.

Yes, that's the scale. 

Luckily I met a hiker traveling from South to North, so I asked him to take a picture of me with this view.

What was funny was that when he said he felt moved, he actually meant the hot-water bath in the hut. 

There was only one river to ford on day 2. It was called River Grashagakvisl.

River Grashagakvisl to ford on day 2 of Lagavegur. / Photo: Yun (Me)

I was nervous fording this river. After all, I had little experience in doing this.

I remember it was not difficult, comparing to the rivers on day 3 and day 4. 

The water of Grashagakvisl reached below my knees, as I recall.

I brought no sandals, so I forded the river with barefoot. But I strongly suggest to bring a pair of sandals / slippers!

There were people trying to find some spots to jump over the river without taking off the shoes.

I wasn't sure if they found it or not, yet it took time for searching for sure.

Some looked for a narrower water to pass. But maybe if the river becomes narrow, the water runs faster? I'm not sure.

Somewhere near Álftavatn on day 2 of Laugavegur / Photo: Yun (Me)

After the river, the land just became flat and endless.

I'd say even though it was cloudy all day, the cold white light passing through the clouds looked rather beautiful.

For more miraculous photos, please check out my flickr!

Somewhere near Álftavatn on day 2 of Laugavegur / Photo: Yun (Me)

Most of the hills along the trail looked quite naked and abrupt to me.

Lake Álftavatn / Photo: Yun (Me)

After crossing the river, you can see Lake Álftavatn soon. The huts and campsite lie beside the lake.

Somewhere near Álftavatn a huge rock and my camera. / Photo: Yun (Me)

There was a "selfie rock" on the trail near Álftavatn. I think it was useful for solo hikers without a tripod / selfie stick. 🥺

And then, there is the hut!

Huts of Álftavatn

The huts of Álftavatn can be reached by cars. 

"If there is a road, there is service." -- Some 3G service was available.

Besides, the huts provided snacks and hot meals. But I didn't have them.

Huts of Álftavatn / Photo: Yun (Me)

I had some Italian noodles with tomatoes and pork of MountFood. Yummy, yummy!

The differences between day 2 huts and day 1 huts were:

• Day 2 we had flush toilet. (Day 1 was eco toilet.) (Toilet paper were available in every huts.)
• Bath in hot water was available here. (Not like "hot", but still comfortable. That's what I heard.)
• Rooms were for beds. Single beds. While tables were in the seperate kitchen / lobby.

There was a guy traveling South to North this day. He checked in on spot without pre-order. 

He planned to set up his tent at first, but the weather encouraged him to stay insides.

So, it wasn't impossible to check-in temporarily. 🤔 

However, there was some tour customers staying in the huts on the same day. 

So still, it's better to reserve your bed in advance.