ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years, 6 months ago - Marlom Tander

I spent 2 amazing months hitch hiking there in my student days.

1) Where is the shoot? If "the wilds", large parts of the country are inaccessible for 6-8 months of the year, even with 4x4's

2) Lots of the country looks wild even when a nice black top runs through it. So unless you need specific landmarks, "the wilds" can prob be avoided but still get great images of wilderness.

3) Read the maps carefully. In 1984 there were the following grades of road :-

1a - tarmac, and bridges over all rivers.
1b - gravel, bridges over most rivers
2 - gravel, bridges over some major rivers - and plenty unbridged rivers need an expert to cross. This video is of a unbridged river on a Class 2 road. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am-4L7YeqTA - and when I crossed it in the passenger seat of a Range Rover, the water was halfway up the window.
3 - gravel track suitable for 4x4 only, few, if any, bridges, and closed most of the year
4 - a line on a map, for 4x4 in convoy and only for a few summer weeks.

3) Right now they are having the world's largest eruption since the 18th century, and that is causing air pollution issues, esp in the East http://www.jonfr.com/volcano/ and http://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/articles/nr/2947

Yes you can fly over it, but not land or drive there (risk of death by gas)

Be aware that the caldera subsidence means faulty movement and ongoing risk of explosive sub glacial eruption - yes, like Eyjafjallajökull but probably much bigger. Make sure your insurance will cover you if you get stuck for an extra week or two on account of closed airspace. Get IN WRITING that the cover has been granted by the insurer with their full awareness of the current conditions.

4) The weather is variable all year - one day in mid June I baked at 25C AND got snowed on, all without moving - but basically bloody awful for lots of the winter, so if you need good weather, or even just dry weather, you need a timetable that will let you wait as needed.

Having said all that, it is the most amazing stunning country I've ever been, and with a people to match. Note - if you ask an Icelander "can I...?" :-

YES - means "yes, because I'm going to assume that you have the relevant kit, experience and training". That Class 2 road in the video? I had been in Iceland long enough to ask "is it possible to walk along the road to the Youth Hostel", and was told YES. I hadn't been there long enough to understand what that meant. What it meant was that ONE person had crossed the river unaided, so naturally I could do so. (I met him later, he was the hostel manager, and vodka had played a part in his bloody stupid swimming adventure)

MAYBE, or "Yes, but you might have some problems". That means "No, but I'm not going to insult you by implying that you can't, because of course you might be the worlds best at this stuff". When I was there Krafla was expected to erupt. The sign didn't say "Keep Out", it said "If you choose to go to the fissure that we expect to erupt without warning, we suggest you stay on this side, so as not to get cut off by the lava"

NO means ... well the only time I was told No was when I asked about swimming in a warm lagoon under the lava - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grj%C3%B3tagj%C3%A1 - and was told NO. Because it is infected with amoebic meningitis. Which was a bit scary because we'd found it, and swum there, the previous night... and yes, amazing, and my immune system was working fine as well :-)

Have fun :-)

10 years, 6 months ago - Jendra Jarnagin

I have a friend who produces there. I sent him the SP bulletin & asked if he had leads for you and he said yes indeed! email me at jendradp AT gmail DOT com and I will connect you.

10 years, 6 months ago - Dylan Howitt

Thanks guys, much appreciated! Marlom - I don't think we're filming too far off the beaten track this time, but I had a look at some of your links - crazy! Thanks for taking the time to give me some advice. Jendra - I emailed you.