waterfalls & geysers in the North Atlantic

Published September 12, 2013

I discussed Iceland as a ‘bucket list’ destination with my friend Dawn more than 4 years ago.

Soon after, a massive volcanic eruption (Eyjafjallajökull) disrupted air traffic not only in Iceland but across all of Europe as well. Additionally, I closed on my Colorado home in December 2009 (moved in Jan 2011 – a full year later).

Summed up – life happened.

Fast forward 2013. Dawn put the Iceland bug back in my ear in January. I laid down a $300 trip deposit in March. Purchased airfare in June & bam – on September 10^th, boarded a plane to Reykjavik.

Had planned a volcano hike on Wednesday but landed late due to bad weather. Ho hum. Plan B – boarded Flybus at the airport with Dawn & Stephen (who arrived 2 hours earlier from Boston) and spent the day at Blue Lagoon, a hot springs resort outside of Reykjavik. Plan was to stay active & awake – adjusting to ‘Iceland’ time before our island circle tour departed Thursday (the following morning). Check, done.

Waterfalls & geysers

Spent Day 1 travelling southern Iceland. Highlights: Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss & Skogarfoss waterfalls. Each came with a unique Viking saga; each imprinted a permanent indelible memory. Gullfoss “Golden” waterfall is thunderous & powerful – similar to our Niagara Falls. The spray alone pulled me in – addicting, left me wanting to feel a part of this amazing force. Temps hovered just above freezing but [that] didn’t stop me from my first Day 1 drenching. Adventurous, amazing start.

Trekked literally behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall – BEAUTIFUL (and cold and wet – all at the same time 🙂 ). Our tour guide Ingi-Gunnar gave us only 20 minutes at Skogarfoss waterfall. Just enough time to run UP & catch a view from the top. How many opportunities does one get to climb a waterfall in Iceland, right? FAAANTASTIC!

In between waterfalls, toured Geysir, Iceland’s largest geyser (& from where the term ‘geyser’ originates). Additionally, watched its sibling Strokkur spew boiling sulfur-laced water upwards – before nabbing a bowl of fish soup for lunch.

Ended the day at Dyrholaey, Iceland’s southernmost point, climbing large volcanic rocks overlooking the sea. WOW WOW WOW!

Glaciers & icebergs tomorrow – seriously LOVIN’ this place!

: Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland

: first sight of land after 7 1/2 hour flight from Denver

: Welcome to Iceland & Hekla volcano

: much colder than yesterday’s Colorado temps

: Gullfoss “Golden” Waterfalls

: HUGE waterfall – check out folks on rock shelf (center left)

: thunderous, massive power

: not just green but EVERY shade in my Crayola box – LOVE!

: check out that spray – AMAZING!

: crazy wet start to my Iceland adventure

: Geysir – Iceland’s largest (& where the term ‘geyser’ originates)

: Geysir’s active sibling, Strokkur

: not as big as Old Faithful but erupts every 8 minutes

: sheep gathering after free-ranging the Highlands all summer

: bus detour/turnaround – literally miles of sheep

: Seljalandsfoss waterfall

: trekking BEHIND the waterfall – SUPER fun!

: today’s WOW shot!

: nope not dreaming – I’m really in Iceland

: Skógafoss waterfall – yep, climbing this one

: well worth the hike UP — FANNNNTASTIC!

: look who’s at the end of my rainbow – Dawn!

: South Shore black sand & volcanic rock

: Dyrholaey, Iceland’s southernmost point

: awesome day of waterfalls & geysers — glaciers & icebergs tomorrow

Posted in Europe | Tagged beachcombing, geysers, kyrkan, waterfalls | 2 Comments

hike #63: Mt Princeton 14,197ft

Published September 7, 2013

Today’s hike destination, Mt Princeton – my 14^th 14er. Woo-hoo!

Early 3am Saturday start. Drove to the Collegiate Peaks near Buena Vista with my friend M, 3 hours away. Geared up – water, sandwiches, cranberry-almond trail mix & sunblock. Ready to start the 13 mile trek up this Class 2 mountain.

3 miles to the radio tower, then another half mile to the trailhead turnoff. REWARD – cool mountain air and the beginning of autumn. Aspens are turning yellow – fall time in the Rockies (fade in, a John Denver tune 🙂 )

Past treeline, the trail snaked over miles of ‘broken mountain’ – boulder fields. Rock, rock and more rock.

Lost the trail approx a mile/mile half from summit. ARGH! Our only solution – hike UP.

Looking UP 1500 vertical feet, just seemed impossible.

Broke it down in parts. Ro went off leash as we climbed in short calculated bursts with brief oxygen breaks. Quick climb to a large rock outcropping, followed by another brief break. Tough climb. Kept a good attitude and encouraged Ro up the steep slope. Clapping, cheering, whistling – UP UP UP we climbed.

Almost 2 hours later we popped over the top – maybe 200-300 feet from the summit. Amazing limit-less day!

Positives – (1) perfect weather, (2) amazing team attitude (made ALL the difference), (3) physically pushed to another level.

Probably my hardest hike mentally – just behind Barr Trail-Pikes Peak in July & my lightning strike on Mt Audubon in Aug 2012.

The REWARD – HUGE boost in self-confidence. I pushed myself. I finished. I can do ANYTHING.

Ended the day with a natural hot springs soak. Super nice, highly recommended 🙂

: my 14th 14er – Woo-hoo!

: nice day in the mountains

: 3 miles to the radio tower, then 4 miles UP to Mt Princeton

: Hello Autumn – I missed you!

: doing their thing – Aspens are turning yellow 🙂

: treeline

: trekked across a boulder field for miles

: lost the trail – options?

: UP UP UP we climbed

: 2 hours later, popped out 200-300ft from summit

: SUCCESS!

: Amazing limit-less day!

: Tough hike – but going home with a smile on our face!

Posted in 14ers/13ers | Tagged hiking | Leave a comment

hike #62: Wheeler Peak (NM) 13,159ft

Published September 2, 2013

3 day holiday weekend – rest & relaxation. Huh? I don’t think so.

Ran a 10 mile race Saturday 7am, back home showered at 9am, drove north to Longmont & dropped off Ro at Windstar Kennels by 10 – then hit I-25 South for a long weekend in Taos, New Mexico. The plan? Food, art and…hiking of course. In particular, New Mexico’s highest point – Wheeler Peak – a 13er approx 30 minutes from the Colorado border.

Woke early on Sunday & drove north to Taos Ski Valley for ‘hike day’. Added 30 minutes to my journey thanks to iPhone directions which pushed us on Indian Service Route 700 – a 3 mile dirt road stretch thru an Indian reservation. Scenic sage & yellow mustard dotted the native NM landscape. Nice diversion; sometimes best to take the road less traveled 🙂

Driving UP through Carson National Forest, was surprised by the lush New Mexico surroundings. I had pictured cactus & desert in NM – not so, this place overwhelmed with bursts of colour and earthy scents of spruce & pine.

Parked, geared up, then hiked 3 miles to Bull-of-the-Woods meadow before veering onto Wheeler Peak trail. Another mile past treeline was welcomed by stunning colour – yellows, greens, dull orange & vibrant patches of red wild flowers. Wildlife tally – marmots & bighorn sheep. What an amazing panorama!

Up the initial false summit, caught my first glimpse of Wheeler Peak. 3 or 4 more ‘false’ summits later, had climbed not one but 2 13ers (Mt Walter and Wheeler Peak). (unfortunately) Stopped no more than 20 minutes for pics & a food break before trekking down, darting from immense clouds carrying rain, thunder and streak lightning.

HAPPY MOMENT – Not far past Mt Walter on my hike return, the sun peeked out creating a double rainbow – literally we were hiking ‘over’ the rainbow 🙂 Finished the last mile bushwhacking in & between mountain roads before stumbling upon Taos Ski Resort (mighty fine luck – sometimes good things happen to good people).

Sunscreen, salt residue & a little dirt didn’t stop us for filling our stomachs soon after. Washed in a bathroom basin and ended the day with dinner at Sabroso – HIGHLY recommended!

SHORT DETOUR – Traveled home via San Luis – Colorado’s oldest town, established in 1851. Walked the Stations of the Cross to a small Catholic chapel built high above the local village.

Perfect end to an outstanding weekend! Big FAN of Labor Day!