Bárðardal is a valley mainly set in connection with the highland route Sprengisandurleið F26 but less with its own beauty. It possesses 2 beautiful waterfalls in the river Skjálfandafljót and is close to a third, Góðafoss, Aldeyarfoss and Hrafnabjargafoss. The valley stretches around 40 km, in north-south direction, south of the ring road 1 before the landscape inclines from 250 m above sea level to around 1000. The valley is possible to travel with a 2x4 car during snow free periods and there are two gravel roads, one on each side of the river. It is first after crossing Mjóadalsá that the F26 takes on requiring a 4x4 if going south across the sands. To visit Aldeyarfoss a 2x4 car is fine even if the road warning sign might tell you something else. During roughly 2 summer month when the F26 is open for traffic there is a lot of traffic in the valley, but not for staying and exploring but only for passing through transport.
This is a real pity.
To remedy this a series of 37 caches have been placed taking you to breath taking places you would never have visited, the so called BNAPT series. Calculate to spend at least one day or more likely 2 if you are up to log this series.
There is of course also a history how the valley got its name and that will take you back to the time of settling around year 870 (some say this took place much earlier already back in the 7th century). Gnjúpa-Bárður was a settler coming from east, like all vikings did, followed by his family, clan and slaves. In Landnámabók (book of settlers from the 12th century) more than 3000 settlers and the areas they settled are mentioned by name. Gnjúpa-Bárður settled in Lundarbrekka where you still find a church and 4 farms today carrying the same name as he gave them. The cold northern winds and the milder southern ones made him believe that it must be much warmer further south. So he and all his tribe left the area through Vonarskarð in what still is called Bárðargata to a farm called Gnúpur today, found close to Kirkjubaejarklaustur.
THIS CACHE IS PLACED ON A PRIVATE FIELD WITH THE FULL PERMISSION OF THE LAND OWNER.
PLEASE ADAPT YOUR BEHAVIOUR IN ACCORDANCE ! DO NOT DESTROY THE BARBWIRED FENCE WHEN CROSSING OVER OR UNDER IT! DO NOT TRAMPLE DOWN MORE GRASS, IF NOT HARVESTED YET, IF THERE ALREADY IS A PATH MADE BY EARLIER FINDERS !
PARK YOUR CAR (2x4 IS FINE DURING SNOW FREE PERIODS) AT ROAD SIDE OPPOSITE THE SMALL HILL. PULL OVER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND TURN ON WARNING LIGHTS.
REPLACE AVAILABLE LAVA STONES ON THE CACHE SO THAT THE WIND DOES NOT CARRY IT AWAY !
This is an approx 2 l snap lock box carrying RITR log strips and possibly some travel items only. Swap as you like. BRING YOUR OWN PEN SINCE THERE IS NO PEN IN THE CACHE !!
Good luck and have a safe trip !
Ingabo & Heimdall