Not long after we made it up the ridge, the rain started. It was a cold, heavy rain and the sun had long since set. There we were, shivering cold, staring across a valley at an active volcano. It was the most fitting welcome I could think of for our first days in the land of fire and ice.
The volcano was only a short drive from Reykjavik, and we were far from the only group making this trek. After parking in a large parking lot, we did the 20 minute hike up a ridge opposite the volcano. Earlier in the year, you could safely get closer to the action, but now we stayed a cautious distance across the valley. We were close enough to see the lava spurting and bubbling up over the ridge, but far enough that we couldn’t feel any of the radiant heat.
The eruption has stopped since our visit, and thankfully before any essential infrastructure was damaged. I don’t think a single tourist standing on the mountain with us felt let down or underwhelmed by what we were experiencing; it’s one of the few places I’ve been where I’m sure that every single person was appreciative of the likely once-in-a-lifetime sight in front of us. I’m forever grateful for the moments I had on that ridge.
Remember to practice caution if you’re going to view the site of the volcano. Even though the volcano is no longer active, we were warned that the dried lava may not be as solid as it looks.
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