ICELAND Part V ~ Glacier Hike with Kyle

Our guide Kyle taking us to our next adventure on the Sólheimajökull Glacier, a glacier tongue extending from the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier, an icecap covering the Katla volcano.  The black we see is lava ash from past eruptions.
Most of us remember the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjnallajokull which covered the glacier with this black ash.  But the ash we will see today is not from Eyjafjnallajokull's eruption but from Katla's last eruption back in 1918.

Layers of ice holding it in place for the past 100 years.

Outfitted with crampons, an ice axe and a hard hat we begin our climb.  This is an exceedingly wet location.  Throughout our climb we received rain, a bit of sunshine followed by a snow squall.   An ever changing landscape within this region of Iceland creates an awareness and awe as we set off on our challenge. 

Along the shores we passed by a sign showing how much the glacier had receded in the past decade.

One by one we trusted our crampons up the frozen crevasse.

There were dips and holes

and views that made you stop and pause.       How lucky am I!

Kyle was wonderful in sharing his knowledge of the glacier and we were intrigued although cautious as we explored.

...not too close on this one

This was  deemed the men's bathroom!

We gelled as a group - many laughs - conversations - enjoying the great outdoors and new experiences together.

Taking home with us a new understanding of just how small we are in this world.

Layers of black ash 

creating a black sand beach 

along the lake 

Beauty - 'still life' - gracious

GLACIER

enjoy,

k