21/08/2026
Not quite the ending I had in mind, but a good trip overall with some future plans. On ~day 3,the top of my knee started to hurt with each step. Very minor swelling at the knee. I hiked onwards for another 10 days. On my last day on trail, my leg swelled up significantly (last photo). There were two docs at Hvanngil Hut, and both,independently, told me mytrip was done and to be seen immediately. I was able to secure transport to Hvolsvöllur, and then a bus to Selfoss where there are medical facilities. Spent the better part of a day in the ER. Fortunately nothing serious, just rest, elevation, and compression.
1) Vonascarð geothermal area
2) Vonascarð desert
3) Desert hiking
4) Pierre who helped get me south. The ride could have been the basis for a Steve Martin movie with an American who doesn't speak French and a Frenchman who has limited English traveling the Icelandic desert together, complete with traveling across a hydroelectric dam with big "Official Use Only" signs
5) Mountain Mall in Landmannalaugar
6) Álftavatn lake/area
7) Álftavat #2
8) Ran into some people i know (well, their horses) at Hvanngil Hut
9) Excellent pizza in Selfoss
10) Bobby Fischer's grave in Selfoss
11) Coffee and cake at Konungskaffi
12) The injury that sent me off the trail and to the ER. 1
