Iceland: Sailboat, Fjords, Couloirs, Puffins, Whales, etc.,...

[patxi]

Spent last week sailing and skiing on the Hornstrandir peninsula on the NW tip of Iceland.



The plan was to sail from Isafjordur over to the peninsula, get dropped off at the end of the fjord, tour up and over to the next fjord where the boat would be waiting with cold beers and a hot pot of freshly picked mussels as an appetizer to the main course. Spend the night and repeat for the next 5 days. The plan worked out quite well. We toured between the following fjords over the course of the week: Hesteyrarfjordur, Veidileysufjordur, Lonafjordur and Hrafnfjordur.



Flew into Reykjavik and had to drive all day to make it up to Isafjordur (You can get a flight that takes 45 minutes but none were available on the day we needed to travel). It was stormy all day on the drive. We were worried about the lack of snow on the drive north. We encountered a bit going over the passes but nothing significant.





As we got up to the North, there was a bit more snow going almost down to sea level but still very thin. Getting more worried.



Approaching Isafjordur.






Upon arrival to the port, the captain assured us that there was much more snow over on the peninsula. Since it was still stormy, we decided to wait for the morning before crossing over the open straights to Hornstrandir.

Our home for the next 5 nights.

[patxi]

At 7 a.m., we left the harbor.









Entering the Hesteyrarfjordur.



More snow!



Looking back.





Nearing the end.



Landing





Heading up.





Reaching the first col and looking over to the north side of the peninsula (Haelavik bay where a polar bear made it to shore after a long swim from Greenland a few days after our departure (http://www.icelandreview.com/iceland...7279.news.aspx)



Last look at Hesteyrarfjordur



Some more skinning and we eventually caught sight of the boat waiting for us in the Veidileysufjordur.



But first we see something interesting to ski on the way.





It got icy. A few of the party opted to find some sunnier slopes to ski something soft. A few continued up.







One last nicely corned run to sea level.

[patxi]

Relaxing on the boat with some Black Death (Brennivin).







The next morning, our goal was to make it to the Lonafjordur.

Heading up.



Looking down in the Lonafjordur and our boat waiting for us.



The next day, we stayed in the Lonafjordur basin.

Discussing the game plan.



Looking up at what we would try to find at the end of the day.



Beach walk





Let's head up there.





First lap down.





Paparazzi (http://www.lucadeantonipictures.com/home/home.html)









Back up on top





One more climb, too windy, time to head to the boat.



Trying to find the entrance to the couloir.

[patxi]

It stormed that night and was windy in the morning but we had to make it to the last fjord, Hrafnfjordur.





And we made it but it started to rain.



Waiting to the ride.



The next morning, we only had a few hours before we had to sail back to Isafjordur. Some went kayaking, some jumping off the mast, a few went for one last tour.



I left the tour and went off in search of arctic foxes. I saw two.



It is summer in Iceland.







Back to the boat by noon and off we go for the 4 hour sail back to Isafjordur.





Getting too gusty so time to pull down the sails and motor home.



Captain Siggy (and awesome cook).



Our tourguide, Haukur.



Back to Isafjordur





That evening, we ordered in advance a special Icelandic meal: First course of Puffin followed by some tenderloin of Minke whale.

Puffin



Whale



The Puffin was edible but nothing too special. The whale was pretty tasty and similar to a decent steak. Later in Reykjavik, we had some whale sushi which was good. The whale kebabs were a bit tough though.

Last shot of Isafjordur before the long drive back to Reykjavik.



It started storming on our drive south.



Another nice fjord.



Dynjandi falls





Hot waterfall



Reyjkavik









Good times, good people, good skiing, good trip.

[leftfield]

A part of the world i wouldn't otherwise get to see. Some sweet pics, thanks.

[hop]

Awesome. Is that V61 I see?

One of these days I'll make it there.

[patxi]

Is that V61 I see?

The one and only.

[Trapp]

Very nice.

[skajah]

Outstanding, thanks for that!

[Scottish_Skier]

Epic!
Nice write up.

5 years ago went cycle touring in Iceland.
Very windy part of the world.....

[NCski]

Very cool pics. Thanks.

[shafty85]

Wow. Sweet TR. I plan on making it there (land of my ancestors).

[verbier61]

it has been a great trip with great friends.
I couldn't ask for more as a gift for entering the 50s.
patxi's pics are awesome, but if telepath wouldn't be so lazy (or busy at work, you decide), some of mine would have been already on coreshot :-)

[Hicks]

Looks like a great trip, thx for sharing.

[mantraskier]

Slightly Epic....such a cool place

[hutash]

Wow, what a place to tour, thanks for the TR.

[Hutch]

very cool - great photos!

[The Gnarwhale]

Yup, that's a quality trip and a quality trip report. Was your sailing cruise a custom request or is there enough ski traffic to the area that boat captains offer ski/sail trips?

[TeleThor]

I've had a few relatively brief stopovers in Reykjavik when flying to and from Norway. I've always wanted to take a few days and explore a bit more. You make a very convincing case. Looks like fantastic trip!

[lynchdogger]

Awesome. Plain n simple! Awesome!

[DeathVan]

Damn fine!

Thanks for bringing it

[rod9301]

awesome TR. How expensive is the trip?

[powdork]

that was awesome.

[RootSkier]

Amazing landscape and amazing photos.

What's with the u-turn contrails?

[verbier61]

awesome TR. How expensive is the trip?

quite cheap after the island krona collapsed a couple of years ago. It has lost 50% of its value against the euro, dunno about the $