nickthetasmaniac
Veteran
Hi all, a collection of shots from a traverse of Iceland in June 2015.
I walked solo from Ásbyrgi in the north, through the highlands to Skógar near the south coast, a journey of 21 days and about 500km (I think, I wasn't keeping track).
This is easily the hardest long-distance route I've done, and I've done a few. There was a lot of late season snow left over, which meant that the staffed cabins through the highlands were all closed. This made resupply impossible for a lot of the route, and in the end I carried enough food to be self-reliant from Mývatn to Þórsmörk, a section of approximately 16 days. For 12 days through the highlands I didn't see a soul.
Shot mostly with the GR, and a few with the EM5 and m.ZD 45mm.
I walked solo from Ásbyrgi in the north, through the highlands to Skógar near the south coast, a journey of 21 days and about 500km (I think, I wasn't keeping track).
This is easily the hardest long-distance route I've done, and I've done a few. There was a lot of late season snow left over, which meant that the staffed cabins through the highlands were all closed. This made resupply impossible for a lot of the route, and in the end I carried enough food to be self-reliant from Mývatn to Þórsmörk, a section of approximately 16 days. For 12 days through the highlands I didn't see a soul.
Shot mostly with the GR, and a few with the EM5 and m.ZD 45mm.
mingkookoo
Well-known
Thx for sharing Nick. Love the footprints on snow and the one below it 
wafflecakee
Well-known
Wow these are phenomenal
BillBingham2
Registered User
Great shots, it looks like an amazing place.
Thank you for sharing.
B2 (;->
Thank you for sharing.
B2 (;->
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
WOW, Nick! What an amazing adventure. Did you do it solo? What made you pick Iceland?
f16sunshine
Moderator
Wow Nick.... Tasmaniac is right.
21 days on foot! You're an inspiration!
Beautiful ... Beautiful images.
21 days on foot! You're an inspiration!
Beautiful ... Beautiful images.
d_c
Established
Great pictures. We were in Iceland last summer and crossed the highlands twice by 'road', so I'm in awe of the fact you did it on foot.
Richard G
Veteran
Great shots and great feat.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
Magnificent!
rhl-oregon
Cameras Guitars Wonders
I think of our members who are comparable trekkers—Peter_S with his Contax T3 in various mountain expeditions, tsiklonaut on his BMW 1200 across the world (most recently Iceland with Pentax 67 and other film beasts), Rangefinder35 with his Contax G/21mm slideshooting across Western state lands and NZ; it’s a small crew and though you each travel alone and lightly, thanks for sharing your image adventures and narratives with those of us who stay closer to home (or close to our conventional vehicles).
Also, long live GR! Imitated by many, duplicated by none.
Also, long live GR! Imitated by many, duplicated by none.
Archlich
Well-known
Awesome. I'm particularly interested in the logistics for the cameras - how many batteries did you have to carry for the GR and EM5? Did recharging take up your resupply time? What kind of case did you use?
I'd really like to bring a digital Fujifilm with me for the next hike...
I'd really like to bring a digital Fujifilm with me for the next hike...
cz23
-
Really enjoyed your photos, Nick. And hearing about your adventure.
I got hooked on two recent TV series set in Iceland (Trapped and Fortitude) and loved the settings of both. I can only imagine an extended walk across that landscape.
I'm eager to see what Ricoh has in store for the next GR.
John
I got hooked on two recent TV series set in Iceland (Trapped and Fortitude) and loved the settings of both. I can only imagine an extended walk across that landscape.
I'm eager to see what Ricoh has in store for the next GR.
John
lxmike
M2 fan.
superb images thanks for sharing
underlord
Well-known
Amazing journey and images! I was there July/August this year, stunning scenery but we travelled by car and probably missed the best of it.
Swift1
Veteran
Awesome photos, Nick. That must have been an epic adventure!
ornate_wrasse
Moderator
Wow! I am big time impressed! The shots are magnificent and I am in total awe of your achievement of doing this trip solo. In picture #6, I see a green tent....is this your tent?
I can only guess at the other wonderful scenery you must have seen on your trek. Thanks for sharing.
Ellen
I can only guess at the other wonderful scenery you must have seen on your trek. Thanks for sharing.
Ellen
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Great and real adventure!
giganova
Well-known
What's a "GR"?
giganova
Well-known
Fantastic images and I can't believe how much you hiked -- with no Starbucks in sight, this must have been scary!
nickthetasmaniac
Veteran
Thanks everyone for the feedback, I appreciate it! I've tried to reply to everyone's questions below...
Yep, nearly all my big trips have been solo. Partly because I like being able to fall into my own rythym (and I can be quite introverted), and partly because it's hard to find partners who have the time, ability and motivation to come along!
I picked Iceland because I like big, cold places, and the the idea of walking across an island has a neatness that I appreciate.
I bought a copy of From Estonia With Love during the crowdfunding campaign and it's fantastic - beautifully captures the essence of these types of trips.
I had five batteries for the GR and used four from memory. I only had one for the EM5 and hardly used it, doing it again I would have left it at home.
The difficulty with cameras in the Icelandic highlands is the very fine volcanic dust - it gets into literally everything. I'm pretty sure it started the slow death of my first GR. I'd avoid anything where I had to change lenses and ideally take something weathersealed.
Hah!
Low points: I couldn't pick out three specific moments - generally the middle bit... I was a long way from finishing, hadn't seen anyone in ages, still had a very heavy pack and wasn't sure if I would be able to make it all the way through. Everything was thawing which meant every river crossing was a risk, every gully was full of snowy slush, and the volcanic sand that makes up the track had turned to slurry, so there was nothing solid to walk on.
High point were being out in such a big landscape alone (and really feeling like I was the only person in the world), and reaching Landmannalauger towards the end and running in to real live humans (who fed me)
Yep, that's my little home - a Hillleberg Soulo
A Ricoh GR - a lovely little compact camera with a big sensor and an amazing lens.
Terrifying!
Yep, nearly all my big trips have been solo. Partly because I like being able to fall into my own rythym (and I can be quite introverted), and partly because it's hard to find partners who have the time, ability and motivation to come along!
I picked Iceland because I like big, cold places, and the the idea of walking across an island has a neatness that I appreciate.
I bought a copy of From Estonia With Love during the crowdfunding campaign and it's fantastic - beautifully captures the essence of these types of trips.
I had five batteries for the GR and used four from memory. I only had one for the EM5 and hardly used it, doing it again I would have left it at home.
The difficulty with cameras in the Icelandic highlands is the very fine volcanic dust - it gets into literally everything. I'm pretty sure it started the slow death of my first GR. I'd avoid anything where I had to change lenses and ideally take something weathersealed.
Fantastic work Nick. I'm really enjoying the full set on Flickr.
There's a selfie taken in the tent where you're staring blankly at the camera, and it made me think: I'd love to know his top three best and worst moments from the trip.
Hah!
Low points: I couldn't pick out three specific moments - generally the middle bit... I was a long way from finishing, hadn't seen anyone in ages, still had a very heavy pack and wasn't sure if I would be able to make it all the way through. Everything was thawing which meant every river crossing was a risk, every gully was full of snowy slush, and the volcanic sand that makes up the track had turned to slurry, so there was nothing solid to walk on.
High point were being out in such a big landscape alone (and really feeling like I was the only person in the world), and reaching Landmannalauger towards the end and running in to real live humans (who fed me)
Yep, that's my little home - a Hillleberg Soulo
What's a "GR"?
A Ricoh GR - a lovely little compact camera with a big sensor and an amazing lens.
Fantastic images and I can't believe how much you hiked -- with no Starbucks in sight, this must have been scary!
Terrifying!