A couple of days ago, we went on a hike along Hestvatn, the lake near the bottom of Hestfjall (Horse Mountain). It was a nice, relaxing hike, approximately four miles round trip in the Kiðjaberg area, and it was not as steep or strenuous as our other hikes. We spent most of the hike on the shore of the lake, protected by the mountains from the wind, but still feeling the warmth of the sunshine on the clear day. We hiked up above the lake and ate lunch looking out over it. There is something about eating outdoors after a pleasant walk in the snow that makes the fresh vegetable and cheese sandwich taste that much better.
I think a major reason why this trip was one of my favorites thus far is because of the water. It was a sizeable lake, but it was small enough to see the shoreline on the other side quite easily. It had a rocky lakeshore, and the water was clear and shallow enough to see the rocks on the bottom of it out for a few feet. Then there was the sound. The sound of the lazy waves on the rocky shore is one of my favorites. It is distinct from the abrasive crash of ocean waves on the shore, and reminds me of summer days out on the lake (a favorite pastime for Michiganders in the summertime). The relaxed splashing of the water on the shore, simple and carefree, was a perfect metaphor for our delightful afternoon.
Alyssa Toye (CELL Iceland, Spring 2017)
Pictured below is most of the crew on the shoreline of Hestvatn (Not pictured: John and Hank)
