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The Glera Valley Area
offers quite a few walking and climbing routes.
The valley is surrounded by many of the highest peaks of Northern
Iceland and a number of small glaciers.
Some of the most popular routes on the map are described in the
following text and applies to summer conditions.
Walking time is not mentioned, but an average person covers about
4 km in level landscapes and one hour might be added for each 450 m
ascent. For routes No. 1-7, the most accessible car park is at the
rubbish tip of Akureyri. Walkers
and climbers should beware of the fast changing weather conditions in
this mountainous area. Storms
and blizzards may set in suddenly the whole year round.
The routes are graded according to how strenuous they are:
* Easy walking.
**
More strenuous walking or scrambling.
*** Strenuous walking or scrambling in steep slopes.
Route
1. Mt Sulur from the
rubbish tip. **
Distance
to summit about 5 km. Vertical ascent about 880 m.
The
route is marked with yellow/red sticks.
It is quite steep in the upper reaches.
On a fine day the view is excellent toward north and east.
In good conditions a walk from the summit of Mt Ytri-Sula to
Sydri-Sula offers a good view to the south.
Route
2. Along the eastern side
of the Glera Valley to the Lambi hut. *
Distance
about 11 km. Vertical
ascent about 470 m.
The
route is marked with yellow/red sticks.
It starts at the rubbish tip, at first following the eastern rim
of the gorge of River Glera, then it turns away from the river to the
slope of the valley, mostly following sheep paths to a pedestrian bridge
across the stream Fremri-Lamba. From there one follows the sticks across the hilly
Grenisholar to the hut.
Route
3. From the Lambi hut to
the summit of Mt Kerling. ***
Distance
to summit about 4 km. From there to farm Finnastadir 6 km. Vertical ascent about 800 m.
The
route is unmarked. It can
be very difficult and an ice axe and crampons are sometimes necessary.
The route up to the top plateau of Mt Kerling follows a buttress
on the western side of the mountain, facing Mt Glerardalshnjukur.
On a fine day the view from the summit is excellent.
Mt Kerling (1,538m) is the highest mountain of Northern Iceland.
An experienced climber may choose a very steep and difficult
route east of the mountain and down in a soutwesterly direction to the
farm Finnastadir in the Eyjafiord County.
Route
4. From the Lambi hut down
the Finnastadir Valley. **
Distance
about 11 km. Vertical
ascent about 270 m.
The
route is unmarked. It
starts along the eastern side of the Glera Valley, then up to the pass
(1,000m) between Mt Glerardalshnjukur and Mt Kerling, then east along
the north side of the Finnastadir Valley to the farm Finnastadir.
Route
5. From the Lambi hut
through Nyrdri-Krokur and down the Skjol Valley.
Distance
about 18 km. Vertical
ascent about 400 m.
The
route is unmarked. It
starts along the eastern side of the Glera Valley up to the pass
immediately to the west of Mt Storistallur.
From there down on the western side of the river in the
Nyrdri-Krokur, then toward the east down through the Skjol Valley,
keeping to the south of the river, to the farm Mikligardur in the
Eyjafiord County.
Route
6. From the Lambi hut down
the Baegisa Valley. **
Distance
about 15 km. Vertical
ascent about 620 m.
The
route is unmarked. It
starts to the southwest from the hut, down to River Glera, where it
normally can be forded. After
crossing the river climb to the plateau Hrutaskeid, then bear right to
the pass between the peaks of Mt Steinsfell and Mt Trollatindur. From there, descend to the north, down the glacier
Baegisarjokull and then down the Baegisa Valley, keeping west of the
river, to the farm Sydri-Baegisa.
Route
6a. From the Lambi hut to
the summit of Mt Trollafjall. ***
Distance
to the summit about 7 km. Vertical ascent about 850 m.
The
route is unmarked. It
follows route 6 up to the pass between the peaks of Mt Steinsfell and Mt
Trollatindur. From the
pass, ascend across the summit of Mt Trollatindur up to the summit of Mt
Trollahyrna. This is steep,
but relatively straightforward. For
the summit of Mt Trollahyrna, continue north to the summit of Mt
Trollafjall (1,483m), the second highest summit in the area.
On a fine day the view from the mountain is breathtaking.
Route
7. From the Lambi hut down
the Glera Valley to the west of River Glera. *
Distance
about 12 km. Practically
all downhill.
Walk
from the hut southwest to River Glera.
Follow the west bank down the valley, mostly along sheep trails,
partly marked with yellow/red sticks.
Cross River Fremri-Lamba on the pedestrian bridge, then follow
the bank of River Glera down to the tributary Heimari-Lamba after which
the route follows sheep trails above the gorge of River Glera, to the
road leading up the Water Works of Akureyri. Continue down the road until you see a sign for a pedestrian
bridge across River Glera, which takes you back to the car park at the
rubbish tip.
Route
7a. From the Lambi hut up
to Trollin and Trollaspegill (lake). **
Distance
from the Lambi hut to the pedestrian bridge across River Fremri-Lamba
about 7 km. Vertical ascent
about 450 m.
The
route follows route 7 from the hut across River Glera.
From there ascend on the west side of the hill Hausinn up to the
very prominent pinnacles called Trollin (The Trolls), which protrude out
of the scree on the eastern side of Mt Trollafjall.
From the pinnacles, descend northeast to the small lake
Trollaspegill (Troll Mirror). Continue
northeast from there down to the bridge across River Fremri-Lamba.
This route offers spectacular views across the Glera Valley.
Route
8. From the ski-hotel to
the summit of Mt Stryta on the glacier Vindheimajokull.
***
Distance
about 6 km. Vertical ascent
about 950 m.
This
route is unmarked. It is
very steep in places and crampons and ice axes are sometimes necessary.
Walk uphill from the ski-hotel (Skidastadir), along the ski
lifts, then northward from the uppermost lift, up to the prominent ridge
Mannshryggur. Either climb
up a very steep snow slope on the southern side of the ridge or climb up
the eastern end of the ridge, onto the plateau of Mt Hlidarfjall.
On a fine day, the view from up there is excellent.
Continue southwest toward the very prominent pyramid called
Stryta. Descend onto the
glacier Vindheimajokull before reaching the foot of the northeast ridge
of Stryta. Climb up the
ridge to the summit (1,456m). Enjoy
the breathtaking view. |