europe Archives - dismal wilderness

May 29, 2023May 29, 2023

Chamonix’s Vallée Blanche ski descent

February 2, 2023

Chamonix and the French Alps

We arrived by train in Chamonix, via a narrow mountain pass from neighboring Switzerland. Chamonix was destination #2 for my brother and I—two Americans skiing in Europe for the very first time. The Ikon pass (one of North America’s two skiing “mega-passes”) planted the idea in our minds. Alterra added Chamonix and Zermatt a few years ago, effectively reducing the cost of a European ski trip by … not much at all. But never mind the math. Every avid skier needs to visit the Alps at some point in their life. And here we were.

July 1, 2022July 5, 2022

Glymur Waterfall hike

May 20, 2022

Arrival at Hvalfjörður

Glymur waterfall marked the final hike of my Spring 2022 trip to Iceland. I had spent a week encircling the island nation along the Ring Road, seeing literally dozens of waterfalls. That said, Glymur would prove particularly spectacular.

June 19, 2022June 19, 2022

Hverfjall Crater Rim Hike

May 18, 2022

Arrival and ascent

I drove into the Lake Myvatn area of northeast Iceland on a moody, mid-May morning. After touring some belching, sulfurous thermal vents, I headed over to Hverfjall Crater for the day’s only ‘proper hike‘.

May 30, 2022September 9, 2022

Skógafoss and the hike of never-ending waterfalls

May 16, 2022

Arrival

Skógafoss lies in the south of Iceland roughly 2 hours from Reykjavik. The famed waterfall sits just off the “ring road” near the eponymous town of Skógar. The massive falls appear from the Ring Road, and tower above the large, dirt parking area.

May 30, 2022May 30, 2022

Gullfoss

May 15, 2022

I visited Gullfoss on a drizzly day in Mid-may, 2022. The Waterfall lies at the furthest point from Rejkavic along the famed Golden Circle route. Gulfoss means Golden Waterfall in Icelandic, and it lends its name to the route itself. The massive falls lie just 10 minutes down the road from Geysir. It thus provides an incredible one-two-punch of natural wonders for day-trippers from Iceland’s capital.

May 27, 2022May 30, 2022

Geysir and Strokkur

May 15, 2022

Along the Golden Circle

I arrived at Geysir on a drizzly Sunday in mid-May. Driving through thick fog and intermittent rain, I assumed I’d arrive to find a deserted area. In contrast, the complex of parking lots, walking paths, and visitor centers were bustling with fellow tourists.