We spent three nights in Hellnar on the Snæfellsness peninsula in the western Iceland and made a few trips around: views, waterfalls, beaches, churches, cemeteries, cafés…

But our stay was somehow dominated by the famous Snæfellsjökull glacier situated on the very tip of the peninsula. We planned a climb with a group organised by GoWest agency and looked each second hour towards the omnipresent glacier — is the weather improving? And it turned very, very well, as our group guide told us, “I know you know that we are very lucky with this kind of weather here, but I am sure you are not fully aware how lucky you are!” The gallery of pictures contains also a few photos from Klofningsnes penisula we visited on the way further north towards Vestfirðir, the West Fjords, with a visit to a very atmospheric Dagverðarnes church on the way. Gallery (145 images) Snæfellsnes :: driving towards SnæfellsjökullSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull :: the lenticularis cloud formes above the glacierSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull and Stapafell belowSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull zoomedSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull -- the lenticularis cloud joins the upper cloud layersSnæfellsnes :: Breiðavík :: southern coastlineSnæfellsnes :: by Arnarstapi :: Snæfellsjökull :: it must be windy thereSnæfellsnes :: Hellnar housesSnæfellsnes :: Hellnar :: our house cozy interiorSnæfellsnes :: Hellnar church as seen from the upper level windowSnæfellsnes :: Hellnar :: HellnavíkSnæfellsnes :: Hellnar :: Hellnavík and Snæfellsnes mountainsSnæfellsnes :: Malarrif lighthouseSnæfellsnes :: Malarrif beachSnæfellsnes :: Malarrif beachSnæfellsnes :: Lóndrangar by MalarrifSnæfellsnes :: Lóndrangar by MalarrifSnæfellsnes :: Lóndrangar by Malarrif :: bird rocksSnæfellsnes :: Djúpalónssandur :: remnants of the trawler Epine sunk 1948 :: a sweet water lakeSnæfellsnes :: Djúpalónssandur :: remnants of the trawler Epine sunk 1948 :: a sweet water lakeSnæfellsnes :: DjúpalónssandurSnæfellsnes :: Dritvík beachSnæfellsnes :: Dritvík :: rescue houseSnæfellsnes :: towards SauðhóllSnæfellsnes :: Skálasnagi lighthouseSnæfellsnes :: Skálasnagi lighthouseSnæfellsnes :: Skálasnagi :: Snæfellsjökull in thick cloudsSnæfellsnes :: Skálasnagi :: rocky coastSnæfellsnes :: Skálasnagi :: rocky coastSnæfellsnes :: Skálasnagi :: bird rocksSnæfellsnes :: rocky coastSnæfellsnes :: Öndverðarnes :: lighthouseSnæfellsnes :: the 412m high long wave radio mast Gufuskálar by Hellisandur, 189kHz, 300kW powerSnæfellsnes :: Öndverðarnes :: Fálki source, the only reliable sweet water source in this coastal areaSnæfellsnes :: northern slopes of Snæfellsjökull by HellisandurSnæfellsnes :: LárdalurSnæfellsnes :: Látravík before Brimlárhövði :: Kirkjufell appearsSnæfellsnes :: KirkjufellSnæfellsnes :: Kirkjufell and KirkjufellsfossarSnæfellsnes :: KirkjufellsfossarSnæfellsnes :: Kirkjufell and GrundarfjörðurSnæfellsnes :: Grundarfjörður, fjord and townSnæfellsnes :: KolgrafafjðurSnæfellsnes :: Kolgrafafjður :: Hlöðuvogur bay and surrounding mountainsSnæfellsnes :: BerserkjahraunSnæfellsnes :: BerserkjahraunSnæfellsnes :: SelvallafossSnæfellsnes :: SelvallafossSnæfellsnes :: SelvallafossSnæfellsnes :: Selvallafoss :: behind the courtainSnæfellsnes :: Selvallafoss :: behind the courtainSnæfellsnes :: Selvallafoss :: behind the courtainSnæfellsnes :: Selvallafoss :: a happy girlSnæfellsnes :: Selvallavatn with a lone anglerSnæfellsnes :: Selvallafoss in the full beautySnæfellsnes :: back on the southern coast :: Snæfellsjökull clears from cloudsSnæfellsnes :: BjarnarfossSnæfellsnes :: Búðir churchSnæfellsnes :: Búðir churchSnæfellsnes :: just another Snæfellsjökull portrait, the clouds clear from the topsSnæfellsnes :: Búðir cemeterySnæfellsnes :: Búðir cemeterySnæfellsnes :: Búðir cemeterySnæfellsnes :: Búðir :: the omnipresent SnæfellsjökullSnæfellsnes :: our sturdy carSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull :: all the rocky tops (Jökullþúfur) in sightSnæfellsnes :: by Arnarstapi :: Snæfellsjökull :: the tip is Miðþúfa, the very topSnæfellsnes :: by Arnarstapi :: Snæfellsjökull :: the route for tomorrow :: eastern approachSnæfellsnes :: Hellnar :: the leisure houses and the churchSnæfellsnes :: Hellnar church :: southern peninsula coast behindSnæfellsnes :: Hellnar :: the penisula tip on the mapSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: the eastern approach road :: the group led by a GoWest guideSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: the glacier aheadSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: the abandoned ski areaSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: the ugliness of an abandoned ski liftSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: the penisula looks like... a peninsulaSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: Búðahraun with Búðahelli crater and Hraunlandarif beachSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: the rope teamSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: some crevasses to the north of our routeSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: a big and deep crevasse on our waySnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: a big and deep crevasse on our waySnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: a big and deep crevasse on our waySnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: a big and deep crevasse on our way :: the tops in sightSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: a big and deep crevasse on our way :: the tops in sightSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: passing some rocky outcrops to the south of our routeSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: approaching Miðþúfa, the main topSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: approaching the pass between Miðþúfa and Norðþúfa ridgesSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: Miðþúfa, the main top itselfSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: on the pass east of Miðþúfa :: the view northeast to BlágilsjökullSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: on the pass east of MiðþúfaSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: on the pass east of Miðþúfa :: our guide from GoWestSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: Miðþúfa :: the view to the west :: can we see Greenland from here...?Snæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: Miðþúfa :: the view to the east :: the whole peninsulaSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: Miðþúfa :: the view to the northeast to the NorðþúfaSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: Miðþúfa :: the obligatory photo with the guide from GoWestSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: Miðþúfa :: the obligatory photo with our guide from GoWestSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: Miðþúfa :: the view to the southeast :: the whole peninsula and our approach routeSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: Miðþúfa :: the view to the west :: crevasses below VesturþúfaSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: Miðþúfa :: the view northeast to BlágilsjökullSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: Miðþúfa :: the rocky outcrops below we passed on our waySnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: back on the pass east of Miðþúfa :: looking northeastSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: in a cloud :: looking back from the descend northeastSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: descending northeast in a cloud :: icy ridgeSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: descending northeast directly towards Arnarstapi belowSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: descending :: omitting a crevasseSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: crevasses below NorðurþúfaSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: descending :: scaling a crevasseSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: descending :: scaling a crevasseSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: descending :: back on the dirt road, looking backSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull climb :: descending :: back on the dirt road, looking backSnæfellsnes :: a dark morning in Hellnar :: the weather worsenedSnæfellsnes :: Breiðavík by Arnarstapi in cloudsSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull farewell viewSnæfellsnes :: Snæfellsjökull farewell viewSnæfellsnes :: Berserkjahraun the other day...Snæfellsnes :: Berserkjahraun the other day...Snæfellsnes :: by Straumur :: HvammsfjörðurSnæfellsnes :: by Straumur :: Klofningur behind the fjordSnæfellsnes :: by Straumur :: zoomed Klofningur behind the fjordSnæfellsnes :: by Straumur :: looking west, northern peninsula shoresSnæfellsnes :: by Straumur :: the road east to Skógraströnd :: Klofningur behindKlofningsnes :: Krosshólaborg behind a fenceKlofningsnes :: Krosshólaborg :: Landnám explainedKlofningsnes :: KrosshólaborgKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: lagoons :: Snæfellsnes behindKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: church cemeteryKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: church cemeteryKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: one of the gravestonesKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: church cemetery :: a well-tended for graveKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: her tombKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: her tombKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: his tombKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: his tombKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: church interiorKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: church entranceKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: lagoons, Snæfellsnes behindKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: churchKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: lagoons, Snæfellsnes behindKlofningsnes :: Dagverðarnes :: lagoons, zoomed Snæfellsnes behindKlofningsnes :: Saga circleKlofningsnes :: Skardströnd :: the open Breiðafjörður :: southern shores of Vestfirðir appeearKlofningsnes :: Skarðströnd :: the open Breiðafjörður :: Latrabjarg far awayKlofningsnes :: Skardströnd :: Breiðafjörður :: Reykhólar in sightKlofningsnes :: Skardströnd :: the top of Breiðafjörður :: the road towards Vestfirðir

By the way, the cloud above the Snæfellsjökull in the featured image is altocumulus lenticularis.

And yes, this is the same glacier which plays the somehow central role in two books: Journey to the Center of the Earth  by Jules Verne and Under the Glacier by Halldór Laxness. To the latter, an excellent essay by Susan Sontag in The New York Times is recommended.