Wolfgang Reinelt - Iceland pictures: Laugavegur

outdoor @ wolfgang-reinelt.de	Laugavegur @ Iceland, 2000

Map issued by Icelandic Travelnet:
www.travelnet.is/

The track from Landmannalaugar to Pörsmork (=Laugavegur) with a possible extension to the coast at Skogar, where then the glacier "Myrdalsjökull" is "just to the left". It is situated in Southern Iceland (see also thew map on the left). Without doubt, it is veeeeery popular track, so be prepared for lots of people, even those who typically do not hike that much. A description is contained in each and every guide book, and in the summer, when just "following the crowd", the 1:100000 map "Pörsmörk Landmannalaugar" will be fine. When you have no crowd to follow, just follow the red poles!

Why? the hell should you go this track, when there are so many people? Simply, because it is great landscape: you start in the colourful mountains at Landmannalaugar, hot springs, endless lava fields, proceed to green valleys and lakes, go down to Pörsmörk and its huge rivers, fed by the glaciers. Then you climb up to the ridge of Fimmvörduhals, entering alpine landscape with deep descends, glaciers and finally see ocean, glaciers and coloured mountains by just turning the head 180 degrees. You pass 4-5 totally different landscapes within 4-5 days. That's why!

You might consider to get the 1:50000 maps 1812I & 1812II, if you for instance want to have a chance to find the ice caves near the cabin of Hrafntinnusker (without GPS and in non-optimal weather conditions). Note, that the (older) 1:50000 map draws the track sometimes incorrectly in the area south of the Hvanngil camping site (just compare the two maps).
We did the following track (some 70km) within 5 days and one additional day in Pörsmörk. You can do the route Pörsmörk-Skogar in one day, if you like:

2000-08-24: Landmannalaugar - Hrafntinnusker (cabin)

2000-08-25: Hrafntinnusker - camping site Hvanngil

2000-08-26: Hvanngil - Pörsmörk

2000-08-27: lazy day in Pörsmörk

2000-08-28: Pörsmörk - Fimmvörduhals [take the "better" hut at 27V 0576791 7055803]

2000-08-29: Fimmvörduhals - Skogar

The coordinates provided on this page are data measured on that trip using a Garmin GPS12, usually with an EPE less than 10meters. Map Datum is WGS84 and Position Format is UTM, 27V (which is standard grid on the Icelandic 1:50000 maps).

Some photos are available. Please click on a thumbnail to view the fullsize image.