Dyrfjallstindur (13.08.2018)

Written by torehum (Tore Humstad) GSM

Start point Bakkagerði (44m)
Endpoint Bakkagerði (50m)
Characteristic Hillwalk
Duration 4h 54min
Distance 10.7km
Vertical meters 1,028m
GPS
Ascents Dyrfjallatindur (1,024m) 13.08.2018

Afternoon climb to the easiest of the three summits of the Dyrfjöll mountain range in the minicipality of Borgarfjörður in Eastern Iceland. We started in the village Bakkagerði and hiked the mountain from the eastern side.

Dyrfjöll

The Dyrfjöll mountains seen from north. Dyrfjallstindur to the left, Ytra-Dyrfjall (Súla) to the right, and Fremra-Dyrfjall hidden behind
The Dyrfjöll mountains seen from north. Dyrfjallstindur to the left, Ytra-Dyrfjall (Súla) to the right, and Fremra-Dyrfjall hidden behind

Dyrfjöll (meaning the Door Mountains) are the highest mountains (1136 m) on the Borgarfjordur Bay. They consist of Ytra-Dyrfjall (also called Súla), Fremja-Dyrfjall and Dyrfjallstindur (this mountain). Their name is derived from a prominent mountain pass called Dyr (the Door) at 856 m above sea level. We stayed at the campground Bakkagerði, and through Google and visual impression, Dyrfjallstindur seemed to be the only one possible to climb with out climbing equipment. We still don´t know for sure if this is true, so any comments or local information is welcomed.

Dyrfjöll seen from west. Dyrfjallstindur to the left, Ytra-Dyrfjall (Súla) in the middle and Heimra-Dyrfjöll to the right of Dyr (the door).
Dyrfjöll seen from west. Dyrfjallstindur to the left, Ytra-Dyrfjall (Súla) in the middle and Heimra-Dyrfjöll to the right of Dyr (the door).

Dyrfjallstindur

We drove 1,0 km into Hólalandsvegur (road 946) from Borgarfjörðarvegur (road 94), and after 1 km we took first right, and then quickly left and another 300 m along a narrow dustroad to the trailhead (see tracklog for trail head). Here we parked the car carefully so it shouldn´t obsruct the tractors that were used at the field next to us. A trail along the river Grótlja was marked with green and yellow poles. We followed this trail for a while, before we headed for the west rigde of Dyrfjallstindur.

Dyrfjallstindur. Here we left the trail along Grótlja river and headed towards the western ridge of Dyrfjallstindur.
Dyrfjallstindur. Here we left the trail along Grótlja river and headed towards the western ridge of Dyrfjallstindur.
Our tracklog
Crossing from east over to the western ridge of Dyrfjallstindur (left side of this image).
Crossing from east over to the western ridge of Dyrfjallstindur (left side of this image).

As we had crossed over to the western ridge, we could continue the ascend. But we didn´t follow the very ridge up to the summit. We rather followed a form for scar or lineament crossing the mountain diagonally over to the eastern ridge.

There is a marked scar across the upper/steeper part of the mountain, from south to north. This scar worked as a nice (although somewhat loose) and diagonal trail up to the summit.
There is a marked scar across the upper/steeper part of the mountain, from south to north. This scar worked as a nice (although somewhat loose) and diagonal trail up to the summit.
Alpine landscape at the eastern ridge, close to the summit.
Alpine landscape at the eastern ridge, close to the summit.

From the eastern corner, we could again go towards west, this time 50 m traversing on a somewhat flat ledge.

Sheep on a flat ledge close to the summit
Sheep on a flat ledge close to the summit

From here we scrambled easily straight up to the top ridge. The view from the top was obvously very good. Some pictures may be seen below.

View towards the Héraðsflói bay. The glacial river from Vatnajökull gives color to the bay
View towards the Héraðsflói bay. The glacial river from Vatnajökull gives color to the bay

The descend followed the same lineament down to the western ridge. From here we took a more straight route back to the trailhead where we started.

Thin red rock layers like this are common in Dyrafjöll
Thin red rock layers like this are common in Dyrafjöll
Dyr (the Door)
Dyr (the Door)
Looking back, the lineament that we followed diagonally to the summit is strikingly visible.
Looking back, the lineament that we followed diagonally to the summit is strikingly visible.
Start date 13.08.2018 13:20
(UTC+01:00 DST)
End date 13.08.2018 18:14
(UTC+01:00 DST)
Total Time 4h 54min
Moving Time 3h 56min
Stopped Time 0h 57min
Overall Average 2.2km/h
Moving Average 2.7km/h
Distance 10.7km
Vertical meters 1,028m

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