THE TOURING CLUB OF
AKUREYRI
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Walking
routes in the Glerárdalur area
There is a great variety of walking- and climbing
routes in the Glerárdalur area. The valley is surrounded by many of the highest peaks in
Northern Iceland and there are many glaciers here. Some of the most popular routes, which
are marked on the map, are described in the following text. The description applies to
summer conditions. No attempt is made to give walking times. An average walker may walk 4
km per hour and on top of that one should add one hour for every 450 m of climbing. For
routes No. 1-7, the most accessible car park is at the rubbish tip of Akureyri town. Walkers and climbers should beware that the
weather conditions in these mountains are often unpredictable. Storms and blizzards may
set in suddenly, in any month of the year.
The routes are graded according to how strenuous they are:
Route 1: Súlur from Öskuhaugar (rubbish tip):
u uRoute 2: In along the eastern side of Glerárdalur to the hut Lambi
: uRoute 3: From the hut Lambi
to the summit of Kerling: uuu
Distance to summit: 4 km, from there to Finnastađir farm:
6 km, vertical ascent: 800 m.
The route is unmarked, can be very difficult, ice axe and
crampons often necessary. The route up to the top plateau of Kerling follows a buttress on
the western side of the mountain, facing the mountain Glerárdalshnjúkur. In fine weather
the view from the summit is most spectacular, Kerling being the highest mountain in the
Eyjafjörđur area (1538 m). The experienced climber may choose a very steep and difficult
route east off the mountain and down in a southeasterly direction to the farm Finnastađir
in Eyjafjarđarsveit.
Route 4: From the hut Lambi
down through the valley Finnastađadalur: uu
Distance: 11 km, vertical ascent: 270 m.
The route is unmarked, from the hut in along the eastern
side of Glerárdalur valley, then up to the pass (1000 m above sea level) between
Glerárdalshnjúkur and Kerling, then east along the north side of Finnastađadalur down
to the farm Finnastađir.
Route 5: From the hut Lambi
through the cwm Nyrđri-Krókur and down through the valley Skjóldalur: uu
Distance: 18 km, vertical ascent: 400 m.
The route is unmarked, from the hut in along the eastern
side of Glerárdalur up to the pass immediately to the west of the mountain Stóristallur,
from there down on the western side of the river in the cwm Nyrđri-Krókur, then towards
the east down through the Skjóldalur valley, keeping to the south of the river, to the
farm Mikilgarđur in Eyjafjarđarsveit.
Route 6: From the hut Lambi down Bćgisárdalur valley: uu
Distance: 15 km, vertical ascent: 620 m.
The route in unmarked. First, walk SW from Lambi down to
the river Glerá where it is normally possible to wade across the river. After crossing
the river, climb to the plateau Hrútaskeiđ, then bear right to the pass between the
peaks Steinsfell and Tröllatindur. From there, descend N down the Bćgisárjökull
glacier and then down the Bćgisárdalur valley, keeping W of the river, to the farm
Syđri-Bćgisá.
Distance to the summit: 7 km, vertical ascent: 850 m.
The route is unmarked, follows route 6 up to the pass
between the peaks Steinsfell and Tröllatindur. From the pass, ascend across the summit of
Tröllatindur up to the summit of Tröllahyrna. This is steep but relatively
straightforward. From the summit of Tröllahyrna, continue N to the summit of
Tröllafjall, 1483 m, the 2nd highest summit in the area. In clear weather the view from
the mountain is breathtaking.
Route 7: From the hut Lambi down the Glerárdalur valley to the west of river Glerá:
u
Distance: 12 km, practically all downhill.
Walk from the hut SW to the river Glerá as in route 6.
Follow the west bank of the river down the valley, mostly along sheep paths, partly marked
by yellow/red sticks. There is a pedestrian bridge on the tributary Fremri-Lambá. Then
follow the bank of river Glerá down to the tributary Heimari-Lambá, after which the
route follows sheep paths above the gorge of river Glerá, to the road leading up to the
freshwater wells serving Akureyri town. Continue down the road until you see a sign for a
pedestrian bridge across river Glerá which takes you back to the car park at the rubbish
tip (Öskuhaugar).
Route 7a: From the hut Lambi up to Tröllin and Tröllaspegill: uu
Distance from Lambi to bridge on Fremri-Lambá: 7 km,
vertical ascent: 450 m.
The route follows route 7 from the hut across the river
Glerá. From there ascend on the W side of the hill “Hausinn” up to the very
prominent pinnacles called Tröllin (the Trolls) which protrude out of the scree on the
eastern side of mount Tröllafjall. From the pinnacles, descend NE to the small lake
Tröllaspegill (Trollmirror). Continue NE from there down to the bridge across
Fremri-Lambá. Spectacular views across Glerárdalur valley from this route.
Distance: 6 km, vertical ascent: 950 m.
The route is unmarked, very steep in places, crampons and
ice axe advisable except in the height of the summer. Walk uphill from the ski-hotel
(Skíđastađir), along the ski-lifts, then northward from the uppermost lift up to a
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
mount Hlíđarfjall. Fine view over Akureyri from Hlíđarfjall. Continue SW towards the
very prominent pyramid called Strýta. Descend onto the glacier Vindheimajökull before
reaching the foot of the NE ridge of Strýta. Climb up the ridge to the summit (1456 m).
In clear weather the view - in all directions from the summit - is absolutely
breathtaking.
Compiled
by the Walking Route Committee of the Touring Club of Akureyri in December 1993.
Reprinted with minor modifications in June 1997.
