After a few wrong turns we eventually managed to find the road across the Lava to Keilir, its a unmade road that has to be given a little respect if your car is not a 4x4. We got to the end of the Road after about a ten minute drive and after parking up, Henny elected to stay with the Car. Henny's motives became clear as soon as I got out of the Car. The wind was biting.
I joked that if I was not back in an hour she was to call in the Chopper. She told me I had better be back in an hour as she wanted to go into town and look around the shops.
Anyway, Undaunted I started out across the lava towards Keilir. The walk was easy going at first but became increasingly difficult. Soon I saw ahead of me a steep rise of rock and I decided that if I climbed this I would get a really good view. After hauling my unfit arse up this first rise I discovered that I could not see the volcano due another rise just ahead. I decided I had come too far to turn back so I made my way up this one as well.
I felt like Frodo Baggins, picking my way through the rocks. Snow had bult up between the crags and it had a frozen crust, which made walking on these bits far easier. Then I realised I didn't know how deep these crags were. I tried not think about Touching the Void.
Eventually I made it to the top of this second rise only to find out I was flipping miles away from the Keilir.
Looking at the jagged rocks in front of me I decided that it was time to return to base camp.
I took this video clip when I was up there, as you can hear from the sound, it was a bit windy.
The Intrepid Explorer, Stu Fiennes
2 comments:
It was positively freezing out there... but we will have to go there again and make the walk. That time you better drive as I was perhaps a bit reckless. But I am sure that shiny thing is not really necessary for the car at all....
Blimey, Fraser, you still look like a member of the Gestapo. "For you, Tommy, ze vor is over!"
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