The boring slope

Havannadalshnukur is icelands highest peak and it was our challenge for day three of the trek. It is ~2100 feet and is supposed to take 14-16 hours to climb.

We rose early at 3 am to get onto the trail/ glacier earlier. The hopes were that the top snow layer would be firmer. I knew those early morning rounds for my HPB elective were training me for something since I think I was the only person alive that early in the morning.

The trail starts quite steeply and the first half the snow had melted and left us tra elling across lava field which continued until we hit glacier. Due to the steepness and large crevasses that composed the second half of the hike to the summit we rope up and wore harnesses and proceeded single file in two teams up the glacier. A Brit and I were chosen to go last so that we could lead our teams in reverse down the glacier. This was not something I was thrilled about but having gotten to know some of travel mates I suspected I was a good choice plus they needed strong men behind the guides in case they fell into a crevasses and needed assistance with a self rescue.

We marched slowly up the glacier as our guide tested the path looking for weak spots. We were spaced ~ 10 m apart and I was at the very end. It was quite and became almost meditative as I chanted "please don't let me die by crevass" quietly under my breath.

Due to the recent warm temperatures (for Iceland),  much of the snow had melted that normally created snow bridges over the crevasses. This became increasingly obvious as we approached the summit with deep crystal blue unpassable crevasses between us and the summit. It  was at ~ 1700 m that it was decided attempting the summit would not be safe. They estimated it would take another 2 hours to reach the summit under normal conditions just trying to get around the expected narrow crevasses.  So instead we celebrated our summit with breath taking views of the glacier below us, mountains in both directions,  and the distance coast line of southern Iceland.

It was a spectacular adventure and one that tested my thrill seeking limits. I have to admit traversing the glacier without the ability to assess our safety myself left me feeling nervous. Plus, the idea of plunging to my death into a crevass did not seem too enticing. I still have so much too do!

I was the only one on our team with a small scare which occurred on the decent. It was evident the snow was melting in the afternoon and as I took one step with my left foot I could feel my leg fall through the ice. Luckily it was just my left leg and I only ended up thigh deep in a crevass. I can only imagine what would have happened if it had all given out. It was quite unexpected and unusual that this would happen too me as I was the last person and lightest of our ten man party to cross that area, and I was following the foot steps with a careful eye.

All in all, another grand beautiful adventure that took my breath awake.

As for the boring slope, that's the English translation of the long, difficult to pronounce summit, as the summit is rarely in view for the hike. Needless to say, it was anything but boring!