Remember when an Icelandic volcano erupted causing mass flight disruptions across Europe, with millions of people stranded as ash spewed into the air? Well, it turns out you can climb that volcano, and it might just be one of the best things you do on a trip to Iceland – even if you’re completely new to mountaineering.
Eyjafjallajokull glacier, which sits around 75 miles east of Reykjavik, is the second highest peak in Iceland and can be seen on most trips around the southwest of the country. The summit is 1,651m; for context, Ben Nevis is 1,345m, Iceland’s highest peak Hvannadalshnúkur is 2,110m, Mont Blanc is 4,809m, and Kilimanjaro is a towering 5,895m.
Under the shadow of such competition, it might not sound too challenging. That said, you’ll want to take into consideration that you’ll be hiking from near enough sea level – a solid 16km or so of walking and around 1,500m elevation gain. It’s a long, tough day of hiking, and your legs will certainly feel it the day after (and possibly several more after that). But the beauty of Eyjafjallajokull is that it’s entirely manageable if you’ve got a decent level of fitness, some mental endurance and a good mountain guide.
Eyjafjallajokull is famous for causing havoc to air travel when it erupted in 2010
(Tom Barker for Much Better Adventures)
Fortunately, when climbing Eyjafjallajokull as part of Much Better Adventures’ Iceland 3 Peaks Challenge in the spring, I had the best. Ívar Finnbogason is something of a legend in Iceland, having summited Hvannadalshnúkur more than 70 times and led expeditions across the world, including in Greenland and Antarctica.
“Eyjafjallajokull is a superb introduction to the whole thing,” he tells me over recovery beers following our ascent of the volcano. “You get used to being on a rope, the height is achievable and it’s just eight to 10 hours’ hiking. That’s doable for most people – and enjoyable.”
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His second point is key. The world of mountaineering, like many adventure sports, can be intimidating, not to mention dangerous. Although it’s foolish to underestimate any ascent, particularly one with significant elevation in a day, Eyjafjallajokull is far less punishing than most. Ívar points out that you need no technical skills and, if you hike at the right time of year, it’s unlikely you’ll need any specialist equipment. Yet you still get the rush of glacier hiking.
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