Backpacking

Laugavegur Tour | Iceland

Trek in Iceland

Iceland is one those places that will have your face pressed with enthusiasm against the window of your arriving flight. Upon descent to this small North Atlantic island, you fight to get a glimpse of what is to come. It has a reputation; poor weather, stunning landscapes, massive ice caps and Gnome-like creatures living in all the moss covering much of the island. There is something special about visiting a cold island as opposed to a more common Pacific destination.

We have now been to Iceland three times and each visit has involved the Laugavegur Tour, a 55-75km trek from the interior to the southern coast. The first visit was to hike the Laugavegur Tour, the second to run it, and the third to do other things in Iceland. And yet we still managed to return and do our favorite sections of this phenomenal tour. It is just that good.

In fact here, I will say it… The starting point to this 4-6 day trek, Landmannalaugar, is the single most beautiful place I have ever been. It is sublime. Nowhere else have I stood in such utter disbelief at the unique beauty of a landscape.

We have an entire post already dedicated to the Laugavegur Tour, and its logistics, at DolomiteSport, click here. And, our Iceland Photo Gallery is here.

Why is it so good? It is purely unique, there is no landscape that I have seen that matches its appearance. You will look at things in nature that you have never seen before, it is an art piece. It is the painting on the art gallery’s wall that has viewers commenting, “Wow, someone was thinking outside the box when they created this”. In fact, it does look to have been created on an easel by an artist who has mastered the use of color and composition. Pastels, earth tones, and simple black & whites have been applied to graphic elements such as volcanoes, lakes, lava flows and glacier filled bays. It is a landscape that forever leaves you wanting more.

The Laugavegur Tour itself is a journey through some of Iceland’s highlights. From the Central Highland’s geothermally active start, freshly hardened lava flows, natural hot springs, boiling mud pits, sulphur vents and wandering creeks – to the southern coast’s high glacier caps and black landscape – the entire trek is fascinating, and for those interested in a trekking trip out of the ordinary, the perfect destination.

Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

Hiking the John Muir Trail | John Dittli

Dec 11th, 2009

by dolomitesport.

1 comment

Rae Lakes sunset, John Muir Trail, Sierra Nevada

As mentioned in our earlier post about John Dittli’s new coffee table book Walk the Sky, John himself would be writing a follow up article with his thoughts about tackling a photography project that required hiking 220 miles of the most rugged terrain in the lower 48 – on foot.

Walk the Sky : by Special Guest Contributor John Dittli

A certain burden had been lifted. On day five of hiking the John Muir Trail this last summer with my wife Leslie, I came to the realization that the project was over. Four years of wandering back and forth, constantly searching, working if you will, for the right composition, the right light in the right place, had left me well aware of every bend, every hill. But heading up the south side of Forester Pass, I became relieved of all that.

I no longer would have to look ahead, but rather now had the opportunity to reflect on past days, months and years. To many the walk along the JMT is a lifetime accomplishment, and it is certainly worthy of such a cause. For myself, after a lifetime of weeks and months spent exploring wild lands, I was not expecting any kind of epiphany along the Muir Trail.

Having spent my childhood summers criss-crossing the Range of Light, end-to-end, painstakingly avoiding the JMT, I was well aware of references to the trail as the John Muir Freeway. In fact I have previously referred to it as such myself. For me the JMT was merely a crowded pathway to use on my way to some other remote location.

It wasn’t until I started on the Walk the Sky project that it became evident; hiking the John Muir Trail is in fact, a social walk through some of the finest mountain scenery in North America. Accepted as such the JMT becomes a truly “world class” trek.

As I sat atop Forester Pass, looking north across countless divides, I reflected not only on the places I had seen, but the people met: the young curly haired woman whose beautiful voice I heard singing on the breeze, or the grizzled old man who was no less beaming when he talked of days “following the music of water”.

Indeed there was an epiphany; that wilderness truly can be a state of mind. While I personally still very much value the trail less, I also see the importance of places like the John Muir Trail. A thread not just connecting place, but a common thread binding an environmental and cultural heritage.

To see more of John’s work, and to get information about ordering the book Walk the Sky, visit: JohnDittli.com

Follow John’s adventures, photography and writing via Twitter : John Muir Trail or the Walk the Sky Facebook Fan Page

Below…… some of John’s favorite images from 25 years of working as a professional photographer.

Wildflower bloom in Mojave Desert

Climber on summit of Mt. Challenger, North Cascades National Park

Dan Patitucci on the Silvretta Ski Tour, Austria

Evolution Basin, John Muir Trail, Sierra Nevada

Cathedral Peak sunset, Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park

Skier in flight, Mammoth, California

Rating: 5.0/5 (2 votes cast)

“Walk the Sky” | The John Muir Trail by John Dittli

Dec 7th, 2009

by dolomitesport.

No comments yet

Good things are found in the woodwork.
Or in this case, in the straw-bale.
John Dittli, together with his wife Leslie Goethals, are good things.

This morning, as I watched John cartwheel down Lower Rock Creek’s single track mountain bike trail, I decided he would make a great profile.

John in his element skiing Austria's Silvretta Tour

We first started hearing about John Dittli in 2001 when we moved to California’s Eastern Sierra. He is an outdoor photographer, passionate about the Sierra Nevada, and he gets after backcountry skiing with the enthusiasm of Tiger Woods traveling to Las Vegas. Certainly, he was someone we would have to meet.
It did not take long to cross paths with John and his wife Leslie. Now, nearly ten years later, we are all great friends and beginning to be able to look back on our own collection of experiences.

At 52, John can still drop the fittest of the fit in the mountains. With some fine Swiss mountain blood coursing through his veins, he puts it to good use in the summer months hiking throughout the Sierra, and in the winter, skiing peaks literally everyday. His chiseled features are softened by the broad smile he often wears.

The Dittli house; strawbale, recycled, solar, green, quality

He and Leslie spent 7 years hand building what is likely the Eastern Sierra’s most beautiful home, with the best view, and in the ideal location from which to walk out the door to play. They have mastered a balanced, healthy life as mountain people. Details are not skimped on, it shows in their house and it shows in their work.

John and Leslie have just published their first coffee table photo book following up Ansel Adam’s 1938 book visually showing the John Muir Trail. Walk the Sky is now the definitive photo essay of the entire John Muir Trail, which John has now completed twice on foot and once on skis and always with a camera.

John sampling Italian cuisine

John’s style of play in the mountains is legendary amongst his close friends. We know how hard he charges but you won’t hear it from John, we’ll have to do some storytelling for him. He prefers to roam wild areas, ski lines others don’t know about and to photograph the natural landscape with a unique, loving eye for the mountains and their infinite details.

Last year John came to ski with us in the Dolomites. I was a bit nervous about how he would fare in the more crowded mountains of Europe. For his first day in the backcountry we chose a popular peak with a safe glacier descent for bad weather days, which it was – atrocious in fact. We arrived to a bustling parking lot, so much so that John asked, “I thought we were backcountry skiing”.
“Uh ya, this is backcountry skiing Euro style.”
“Oh come on, all these people are going into the backcountry!”
Once in the up track, John stayed silent for only so long. With 70 something’s charging by in lycra suits and groups of skiers with every body shape and clothing color combo known to man, all of whom proving too fast to pass – John, in his element but completely baffled by the “scene”, had to speak up.
“This is insane!”
I convinced myself that he liked it, he just didn’t know it yet.

John Dittli, Silvretta Tour, Austria

Hours later at the hut, with a beer in hand and smiling ear to ear after a perfect 1000 meter powder run, John admitted to now “getting it”.
All those people, like him, were having a great time.
It was great seeing John go from shock to enjoying the added component of a social life in the mountains.

Now that we are back in his territory it has been rewarding seeing his new book realized. Throughout the years I know he has worked long and hard to create a book worthy of representing the experience that is one of the world’s finest treks, the Sierra Nevada’s John Muir Trail.

In part 2 of this profile, John himself will explain the process of visually documenting the 220 mile John Muir Trail, show his favorite photos and tell a humorous tale or two.

Get to know John & Leslie before part 2 of this post, visit John Dittli.com

Also, join the Walk the Sky Facebook Fanpage

John Dittli and Leslie Goethals

Rating: 5.0/5 (2 votes cast)

Climbing All California 14er | Part 3

Oct 25th, 2009

by dolomitesport.

2 comments

Dan Patitucci on the Shepherd Pass Trail

Mt. Tyndall

Clif Bar #4 and it's only 8 a.m.

With our new found enthusiasm for trail running, Mt. Tyndall was the perfect testing ground for a truly big day. While the peak does have a steep northeast face with some real climbing, all the routes were closed for Bighorn Sheep grazing. This left the long, slabby northwest face as the alternative. But first the run in, 12 miles up and over Shepherd Pass – then Mt. Tyndall for 9000 vertical feet of gain.

Our day started at 3 a.m. as we decided we did not want to look at the distances that would separate us from our goal. We chose to run Tyndall carrying little more than numerous Clif Bars, camera and water. Our decision proved wise as the day was long and our knees began a protest while descending the trail.
Tyndall is a triangular peak hidden behind its more famous neighbor, the bulky Mt. Williamson. Our preferred line was the North Rib, a 3rd class scramble on slabs piled with rubble.
Tyndall is a mountain overshadowed by its neighbor, seldom visited by anyone other than 14er baggers and yet has an amazing view in all directions but east. Its remoteness and isolated position give it a sense of being a bit more wild than other Sierra areas we visited. While we initially looked forward to it the least, it is one of the first we remember when we look back on our season.

Mt. Tyndall

Mt. Williamson

Mt. Williamson is at time closed for Bighorn Sheep grazing – skipped.

Split Mountain

The southernmost 14,000 foot peak of the Palisade Crest differs in many ways from its northerly neighbors. Rather than the typical granite of the Sierra, Split is composed of metamorphic rock of far less quality than the surrounding igneous variety.
Named for its appearance, the summit pinnacle is split in two, cleaved by a couloir that rises from bottom to top of the mountain itself.
In this couloir sits one of the Sierra’s longest ice climbs, and our objective.
Earlier in the summer Janine and I had also run into to climb Split via it’s walk up roue from the East Side. But it was the couloir that had caught my attention and I knew I had to try it.
On Thanksgiving Day my best friend Mark Leffler and I found ourselves climbing up the first pitches of the clear water ice draining from the base. A snow ramp led from the ice to a steep bulge in the couloir. A chimney on the left side exited on slabs covered in spindrift. With nightmare quality rock refusing to accept pro of any sort, Mark decided to venture onto the slab in the hopes of finding something better. Something better turned out to be worse than the rotten chimney. After desperately searching for something that did not crumble under the weight of an ice axe, Leffler opted for the down climb and a rapid exit out of the spindrift avalanching couloir.
Luckily, several hundred feet north of the couloir is another gulley though lower angled and filled with snow. This one allowed us access to the north ridge and a quick scramble to the summit.

White Mountain

We found driving the dirt roads to the parking lot more difficult than the “climb” to the summit of White Mountain. With a variety of research work done on the mountain, White has roads crisscrossing its upper slopes. The summit path is actually a jeep trail that ends at the small summit hut.
The terrain is nothing like the Sierra, rather it is a blank and richly earth toned landscape seemingly void of life. Yet there is an entirely different ecosystem in the Whites. Bighorn Sheep and wild horses still roam the high plains, cactus can be found as ground cover and of course there are the famous Bristlecone Pines. Believed to possibly be the world’s oldest living things, the Bristlecones are passed on the drive to the parking area for the summit hike.
White may best be done as the last peak so as to look across to the Sierra and recall all the places visited and all the moments experienced. We sat out the cold afternoon of a late fall day on the summit of White Mountain and recalled all that had happened during our time in the mountains.

Janine Patitucci running out from White Mountain, behind

It turns out it was not about the climbs, or the individual peaks or even the places. Rather, it was about the experience of the project as a whole, and the friends we shared it with.
Our lives changed as a result of getting to the tops of all these peaks, committing to such a project set us on our path which has become a career doing such things. It is not overly difficult or complicated to get to any one summit, but it is something to experience them and let them teach you things previously unknown about yourself. That is the beauty of being a climber who plays in the mountains.

Logistics and Issues

Backcountry permits are required for all of California’s 14ers excluding White Mountain. For all but the Palisade and Whitney regions, permits are easily obtained at the local USFS Ranger Stations in Bishop, Lone Pine and Big Pine.
Whitney and the Palisades are a different story.
Unless you know the exact dates you wish to climb Whitney months in advance, you’ll have to apply for permits the day before your desired entry date. This means being at the Lone Pine Ranger Station at 11am sharp the day before your approach. There, you’ll stand in line as part of a lottery for the unclaimed permits and walk in registrations. You may or may not receive a permit, in which case you will have to try again the next day.
This is the only option unless you receive a permit when permits are issued the previous spring. Hardly convenient for road tripping climbers.
However, with permit in hand, you’ll be legal to stay at your destination for up to 14 days. The Rangers, it seems, prefer to protect the trailhead more than the backcountry camping areas.
Luckily, we won the lottery our first day, and scratching our heads at the non-sense of the system, we headed for the portal with our permission slips to enter public lands.

Mountain Guides

Sierra Mountain Center : Longtime California and Sierra climber and UIAGM Guide SP Parker manages one of the Sierra’s most experienced guiding services. Running into SP in the Sierra became such a common occurrence that summer that we were forced to become great, and now “old”, friends.

Mountain guides are an excellent option for those new to the area or for those less experienced climbing in serious mountain terrain.

Rating: 5.0/5 (2 votes cast)

Pfunderer Höhenweg

Aug 21st, 2009

by dolomitesport.

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The Pfunderer Hohenweg

The Pfunderer Höhenweg Hiking Tour

Late in the fall of 2008, we found ourselves on one of the best ridge line trails we had ever seen. We were trail running the Sud Tirol’s Pfunderer Höhenweg in the Zillertal Alpen above Bruneck and wanted to see a summit we know locals frequent for post work exercise, the Sambock. Once on top, the trail dropping off the north side of the summit came into view and for as far as our eyes could see, stayed right on the high ridge line until it disappeared into some higher mountains.

High above Bruneck with views to the Marmolada and the Dolomites

“What is this?” Maps would need consulting. It turns out the trail is the Pfunderer Höhenweg Hiking Tour (Alta Via di Fundres in Italian) and stretches from Sterzing (Vipiteno in Italian) to Bruneck (Brunico). While traditionally done as a 5-6 day hiking tour with huts available each night, we decided to see if the whole trail was as good as the first section for running. In June 2009 we set out with our best friend Andreas Irsara carrying only small hydration packs to run its approximate 75 kilometers – but in 3 days.

20090613-_mg_7137

Starting in Bruneck, we once again climbed to the summit of the Sambock where the trail becomes mostly runnable for the entire first day. Sticking to the same ridgeline we had seen the year before, the trail goes up and over numerous peaks while providing unobscured views to both the Dolomites in the south and the high alpine, glacier covered Zillertal Alpen peaks to the north. The trail continues like this for several kilometers before climbing a small pass, La Portella, and then a drop to the Tiefrastenhutte (Rifugio Lago della Pausa). This would traditionally be a stopping point and for us it was, but only for a pasta, we would continue on to the Edelrauthutte.

Dinnertime in the Edelrauthutte

The next section of trail gets into some higher elevation and we discovered that the reason we were seeing no one on the trail was because much of it was snow covered. The winter of 2009 was a massive one and all the passes from here forward were still buried. But there are advantages to this – direct lines and fast descents. Cold, soaked feet seem a small price to pay.

Once at the Edelrauthutte we were greeted by Anton Weissteiner, quite possibly the kindest hut warden I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. We were his guests for the night, and having been open only one day, we were able to take advantage of his enthusiasm for the coming season. A four course meal satisfied our 33 kilometer hunger. Seeing how disgustingly full we were, Anton saw fit to provide us with multiple glasses of grappa to aid in digestion, it certainly aided in sleeping.

The Edelrauthutte

The next morning we set out on a modified route. Anton warned us of too much snow to cross a pass where ladders must be climbed. But a variation to the trail was no problem and we were on our way to the Bodenalm Hut and a quick late morning strudel before once again entering the high, snow covered alpine areas. For us the second day was both roaring hot and ice cold. Dropping down low above the Pfundertal had us on south facing slopes and sweating. From here we climbed and climbed until we were on north facing slopes to the pass below the Punta Riva. In a completely white world we began questioning why we were doing this, in running shoes and lycra. Soaked and a bit frozen, we reached the col and were rewarded with a direct, snow covered line to the Brixner Hut 400 meters below. Minutes later, we were drying out and drinking coffee.

Lago Selvaggio, still quite frozen in June

So far the trail, the terrain, and the huts had been perfect. One day remained for our itinerary and it looked to be a different kind of terrain as we would be lower in elevation before dropping to Sterzing. But first more snow covered passes, the Rauhtaljoch is the morning’s climb to 2800 meters, and here we were once again in a white world all the way down to the Lago Selvaggio which was still frozen solid. Luckily all the snow was hard enough for us to stay on top of which actually made for faster speeds. Yet another pass above the lake before an enormous drop to the Simile Mahdalm, a small farmers home which looks deceptively like a hut but is in fact a working farm. And here the Pfunderer Hohenweg began to fall apart. Until this point the trail, while even snow covered, was very obvious. But now the trail became a faint goat path and climbed as steep as any trail I have ever seen. Vertical dirt is not easy to run. But we gained elevation quickly like this and soon were on top of the final pass, the Passo di Trens (Trenserjoch).

The descent to Sterzing

Here, once again the trail is a faint line through grassy terrain. We wondered if anyone actually does this section, the landscape is fantastic and would be a fitting ending to a superb tour, but really, the trail needs some work. Soon we were on the final drop to Sterzing through lush green forests and trails with more traffic. The temperatures were going up and gelato was on our minds.

Overall the Pfunderer Hohenweg gets a B. For running it is perhaps a bit steep in places, but overall very runnable and high quality. For hiking, it is beautiful although there are many other trails a bit more interesting. The area around the Edelrauthutte is the best in terms of mountain environment while the rest of the trail is very indicative of the the lower Zillertal Alpen Group. One thing I certainly realized after doing this trail was that I had seen the area, from the lower slope goat and cow farms to high rocky ridges, to alpine terrain. The huts were superb, the food fantastic and being a point to point, a rewarding journey. The Pfunderer Hohenweg is recommended.

Please please please… If you do the Pfunderer Hohenweg, we’d love a trip report of your own. We have seen a number of Google Searches for the trek come to us, there is not that much info out there on this great trail.

Leaving the Brixner Hut

Dinner at the Brixner Hut

Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

Iceland Laugavegur Tour

Aug 14th, 2009

by dolomitesport.

1 comment

As photographers we are fortunate to be able to travel to the most beautiful natural places to do our work. We’ve just returned from our third work trip to Iceland, a destination we chose for the work. The landscape, the colors and the absolute stunning & unique qualities are what brought us back not once, but twice. A photo gallery will be linked below.

Arguably the most famous hiking tour in Iceland is the Laugavegur Tour. Traditionally done north to south, the trek begins at a drop off point called Landmannalaugar. This tiny launch pad is a destination in its own right, in fact I would argue that it is the single most beautiful place I have ever been. The area consists of one small hut (sleeps 80), a large campground for trekkers, a small building with sinks, toilets and showers, a covered eating area, an old school bus turned store, and the most coveted of all… a large natural hot spring that serves as swimming pool, meeting place, bath, warming room and of course bar.

Landmannalaugar

Luckily the Laugavegur Tour is good enough to motivate one to leave Landmannalaugar, but only just barely. For those not wanting to do the tour, a stay of 3 or 4 days in Landmannalaugar will keep you both busy and fascinated. But for those doing the Laugavegur, be sure to allow for at least 2 days to explore the Landmannalaugar area.

The Laugavegur Tour

The Laugavegur tour is 4 – 6 days long if sticking to the traditional program. Huts are reached each night where one may sleep inside (if you have a reservation), or camp in the nearby camping area. Food is not available, bring all your food, even if staying in the huts. Inside the huts are kitchens with everything you’ll need, but only for those staying in the huts, campers are on their own.

On the fourth night one arrives to Thorsmork where many people call the tour finished, but the 5th day from Thorsmork south to Fimmvorouhals is superb and should not be missed. If nothing else, do it as an out and back from Thorsmork, this is what we did as the weather was terrible to continue south. Thorsmork is in some ways a natural ending as there is bus service to the hut that returns hikers to Reykjavik.

Landmannalaugar Hot Spring

The full 6 day tour is about 85 kilometers while the Thorsmork finish keeps it at about 55 kilometers. It is mostly flat and rolling terrain, there are no real climbs with the exception of the 5th day which climbs a pass to 1112 meters from about 150 meters. Expect to walk in some summer hardpack snow. Hikers should be reasonably fit and used to carrying heavy packs. Consider this: There is a running race from Thorsmorrk to Landmannalaugar on the same trail, the best time is 4:10…

Landmannalaugar (590m) – Hrafntinnusker (1100m)

An unforgettable day of walking through a landscape like no other. Thermal vents, boiling mud pits, lava flows, and colors never seen in the natural world will all be trailside. There is a massive ice cave in a nearby small glacier that serves as a short side trip from the hut at Hrafntinnusker.

Hrafntinnusker (1100m) - Álftavatn (530m)

From Álftavatn it’s another spectacular day with some river crossings, be prepared to get wet. If there has been a lot of rain, ask the hut keeper about water levels. Distant views to the massive glaciers will come into sight.

Álftavatn (530m) - Emstrur (500m)

The landscape will begin to change this day and becomes more open and stark. Massive wide open, black sand covered scenery and a large river are passed before reaching Emstrur.

The trail follows a river valley out to Thorsmörk where the landscape turns back to green. The giant glacier of Myrdalsjokull will be on the left side throughout the day and several small rivers must be crossed, all with ice cold glacier melt water.

Landmannalaugar Steam Vents

Thorsmörk (200m) – Brattafonn Pass (1116m)

From Thorsmork the trail immediately begins to climb to a huge flat plateau. From here the Myrdalsjokull Glacier will be immediately in front of you. Continue climbing to 1100 meters where the trail traverses a gap between two massive ice fields. Once on the Brattafonn Pass the last hut is a few kilometers below. Care should be taken to only attempt this day in good weather. Poor visibility or snowfall can quickly ruin the fun. Check in at the campground or hut for full weather reports.

Fimmvorouhals – Skoga (sea level)

Thorsmork area

A road is descended from the Fimmvorouhals hut to Skogafoss and the village of Skoga where buses may be taken to Reykjavik.

Iceland Touring Association Website : http://www.fi.is And an excellent page on the tours: Iceland Hiking Trails

Hut Reservations: Full list of huts with phone numbers for reservations. Huts are about 3300 Icelandic Krona per person. Camping is 900 and Showers 400.

Bus Info: Iceland’s Bus Service is superb, buses run daily from Rekjavik to Landmannalaugar. One does NOT need a car in Iceland, impressive given how remote some areas are.

Check in with www.re.is for all info.

Time of Year: Depending on weather, the huts will be open from June to sometime in September. Buses stop running on 13 September. It is possible to do the tour outside this time frame but the logistics of transportation becomes an issue. Landmannalaugar offers plenty of day trips. Check in with Iceland Tourism for all info.

Hiking in Landmannalaugar

What to Take: Standard backpacking camping gear including:

Durable tent for wind.

Nights are not too cold, but a sleeping bag comfortable to -10 celsius will be appreciated.

Good rain gear, waterproof and breathable. Gore-Tex is your friend, you may well spend the whole day in it.

Gore-Tex footwear. Expect mud and stream crossings.

Many people take a pair of lightweight Teva like sandals to wear for the river crossings.

Trekking poles are good for the rivers as well, also for the heavy packs.

Rain covers for the packs.

Eye covers for the all night light.

Cellphones are handy for calling ahead to huts, there is cell and data service almost everywhere.

Dinner in the tent (too wet outside the tent)

Food: One of the unfortunate aspects of Iceland, especially from our coming from Italy, is the food. Iceland’s cuisine seems to be inspired by the American midwest diner – greasy burgers, overcooked everything and little in the way of veggies. While one can find fantastic food in Reykjavik’s restaurants, it is difficult to eat anything healthy outside the city. Stores offer lots of white, processed sugary food – be prepared or bring your own. Remember, nearly everything in stores is shipped to Iceland, and the island is a long way from anything. In Landmannalaugar there is some food available at an old school bus turned into store, they have a surprising variety including lake caught Char, fresh bread is delivered daily. Yes, beer is sold as well.

Weather: It wouldn’t be Iceland if it didn’t get cloudy and rain each day. Just be prepared for some wet weather. Wind is the real enemy if it is combined with the rain. When it blows, it rages. Temps during the day should be about 8-16 Celsius. We have also seen 21 but as an average, it is more like 14.

Language: Iceland natives all speak perfect English and are some of the friendliest people we have met anywhere. They are great fun and love to party, it is a very welcoming country for visitors, no problems.

Summary: Landmannalaugar is really a life list kind of destination, it is that good and that special. The Laugavegur Tour is icing on the Landmannalaugar cake. While Iceland has experienced economic woes in the last year, tourists have benefited. What were once shockingly high prices for everything have become much closer to what the rest of the world is used to. Now is the time to go and deals are to be found from both Europe and North America. Iceland wants your business and you’ll be glad you went, a win win.

DolomiteSport is run by PatitucciPhoto – or, Dan & Janine Patitucci, professional commercial photographers specializing in mountain sports. It is our goal to motivate people to experience wonderful places, such as Iceland. We do so through our trip reports, but more so through our images. This photo gallery is a collection of images from areas in and around Landmannalaugar and Thorsmork, including the National Park Jokulsargljufur.

Iceland Laugavegur Photo Gallery

–we welcome all comments and additional trip info from readers. Thanks.

Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

Backpacking

Laugavegur Tour | Iceland

Trek in Iceland

Hiking the John Muir Trail | John Dittli

Walk the Sky : by Special Guest Contributor John Dittli

“Walk the Sky” | The John Muir Trail by John Dittli

Climbing All California 14er | Part 3

Mt. Tyndall

Mt. Williamson

Split Mountain

White Mountain

Pfunderer Höhenweg

The Pfunderer Höhenweg Hiking Tour

Iceland Laugavegur Tour

The Laugavegur Tour

Landmannalaugar (590m) – Hrafntinnusker (1100m)

Hrafntinnusker (1100m) - Álftavatn (530m)

Álftavatn (530m) - Emstrur (500m)

Thorsmörk (200m) – Brattafonn Pass (1116m)

Fimmvorouhals – Skoga (sea level)

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