Iceland Day 5: Landmannalaugar to Lake Alftavatn - about 13 miles

July 14, 2021: I got up early in the morning and went outside to photograph the night - it was very light with some rose color in the sky at about 2 am. Today my ankle was still pretty swollen. I used three different braces - ankle, leg, knee. I took 400 mg of Ibuprofen and 400 mg of paracetamol. After about 30 minutes I was ready and, together with two hiking poles, started the new itinerary. It says 13 miles, but other itineraries say 15 miles. I am crazy.

We start the same way we hiked yesterday and continue from there. We meet snow, ice, wind, rain - rain-rain. We are soaked. I am always last. Gully stops to wait for me as the weather closes in. When I arrive he starts again because the others are very cold waiting. I get no rest. I am in pain and wet and cold. We finally get to the "lunch hut" at Hrafntinnusker where we were supposed to stop according to the itinerary. The administrators were not going to allow us out of the weather, but Gully convinced them to let us into the coat room. It was awful to be exhausted, in pain, and in an uncomfortable place for 30 minutes to eat. There were three good things: upon exit we saw a Snow bunting, I was able to get my down coat out, so was warm for a bit until that got drenched, and we were now at the highest part of the trek - it was all downhill from here.

The area changed to flatter and dryer. We had one river crossing at the Grashagakvísl River which took me forever as I had to take off all my braces. There was a rope to pull oneself across. Then Gully let everyone else go on and we brought up the rear to the Lake. It seemed to take forever to get there as you could see it in the distance, but it never got any closer. The area around was unremarkable. Somehow I made it through this day and am not sure if I will be able to do it tomorrow.