Northern Lights

[jameso]

Is road riding in Iceland in winter to see the Northern Lights a great idea, or daft? Thinking of road/ice road riding on the 29er with Marathon Mondials or similar rather than fat-biking off road. Finding places to stay rather than a bivvy, looks like a reasonable amount of/priced accommodation is available.

Route ideas, the #1 perimeter road loop could be too far I expect (800+ miles) unless in good condition in winter so taking that #1 N from Reykjavik, looping around the #54/60/61 road into the NW tip area.

Found this useful guide to road conditions - http://www.road.is/travel-info/road-con ... tions-map/

And this Aurora forcaster - https://en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/a ... type=total

Anyone been, did you see much? Did you get loads of sleety horrible weather?

[Moder-dye]

You know you don't actually need to be there in winter, just later/earlier in the year when you get dark nights so that it's clearly visible?

Aurora activity can happen all year round, but its not a given and neither is a clear sky.

Saying that it would be an ace trip

[Alpinum]

What Moder-dye said.
Also there's an 11 year cycle of solar flare intensity, the last maximum was in 2013 (cycle 24) and will be at its lowest just about now (5.5 years in).

Iceland isn't exactly a good place for 'the' lights as it's relatively far south.
Lofoten, Finnmark etc. are much better. More regularly, more intense. That said, once September - my favourite time to travel in Iceland - has arrived chances to see the lights during a multi week trip are very high (some exceptions can be encountered obviously...)

I remember one winter trip to Iceland where even the road between Reykjavik and Selfoss was closed for about 24 h due to large snow drifts.
This is rather rare, but you'll need to be flexible.

If it's for Iceland and the lights only, go in Autumn, if winter has a big place in your plans, go for it.

Gear choice sounds reasonable. The links you found are your best shot to find out about the road conditions.

*goes and looks for a link to a handy OSM based map of Iceland used on all trips*

During a double traverse of the interior in 2016. Trip of a total of 3 weeks, ending mid September.


I had 3 nights with lights during that trip. During a 3.5 weeks trip, mostly hiking across Iceland during the same time of year in 2013 I saw nil. The weather wasn't quite as good in 2013 as it was in 2016 though.

Also check for AirBnBs. In 2016 I arrived in Akureyri with most Hotels/Hostels fully booked but was able to get a lovely room through AirBnB.

Thinking about busses... they can come really handy, also for cyclists. It's rather convenient how the bus companies handle the needs of cyclists, but I don't know if they run the ring road in winter.
One of a few operators:
https://www.nat.is/travelguideeng/bus_stop_to_hofn.htm
Doesn't seem to run in winter, but worth asking.
There's also Sterna and Reykjavik Excursions I can think of.

[Alpinum]

Here's the map I meant
http://ourfootprints.de/gps/mapsource-island.html

[benp1]

I hear it's quite windy there!

It's not as far north as one would assume either

Northern Lights are magical. Spent a few nights hunting them in Lapland, caught 1 epic show that made me grin like a small child! It was blooming cold though, had to take the battery out of my SLR and put it in my pocket to keep it warm

[fatbikephil]

Currently in Finland. If I see them I'll let you know!

[voodoo_simon]

Watch Under an Arctic sky on Netflix and report back!

If Iceland gets bad, it gets really bad

[whitestone]

Currently in Finland. If I see them I'll let you know!

I saw them towards the end of the race in 2017, stopped for a few minutes to gawp

Surprisingly the best show I've seen was from the house sometime around 2003 - we're near Skipton so they must have been spectacular further north.

[voodoo_simon]

Currently in Finland. If I see them I'll let you know!

I saw them towards the end of the race in 2017, stopped for a few minutes to gawp

Surprisingly the best show I've seen was from the house sometime around 2003 - we're near Skipton so they must have been spectacular further north.

11% chance there at the moment.

Been to Rovaniemi 3 times now and never seen them Admittedly one of those times was in the summer in 23 hour daylight

[jameso]

You know you don't actually need to be there in winter, just later/earlier in the year when you get dark nights so that it's clearly visible?

Aurora activity can happen all year round, but its not a given and neither is a clear sky.

Saying that it would be an ace trip

Yes, Sept onwards apparently is good but there's something about the snow, the landscape and the lights going together. Just one of those things that seems unreal and I can star-gaze for hours quite happily on a normal clear night.

Watch Under an Arctic sky on Netflix and report back!

I did great film, it sparked this particular fire again. I always wanted to do the Idita as a young biker but the specialist kit, bikes and prospect of pushing more than riding quashed the enthusiasm for that one - this is in a similar vein though. Think I'd rather ski the Idita ...

Also there's an 11 year cycle of solar flare intensity, the last maximum was in 2013 (cycle 24) and will be at its lowest just about now (5.5 years in).

That is a good bit of info... among the other links and tips. I was thinking about next winter so maybe back to other ideas on the list if that's a significant factor.

Thanks everyone.

[Gari]

The wind can be a real issue, particularly in the winter. Been over in Nov the past 2 years on photo trips, even in a car/camper getting about was a challenge some days. Accommodation/communities can be very far apart, and the ring road very flat and open, as a consequence the wind just howls uninterrupted!!
Temps can be an issue too. Last year was ok; hovered between 0 and -12, previous year it never got above -13. January and February will likely be even colder.
Suitably kitted out you would be fine, but would need to be able to get out of the weather in case you get caught out. Last thing, we planned to camp the first year but couldn’t get a peg in the ground at all. (I know you are talking about using accommodation, but not having an alternative would be unwise in my opinion)Sorry if I am coming across as trying to p*ss on your dreams, it’s a really hostile environment is all. That said, it is an vaguely exciting place:)

[summittoppler]

Me & John Climber went in July but obviously it doesn't go dark so no lights on show.
However I have seen them from the Great Orme in Llandudno, north Wales!!

[jameso]

Sorry if I am coming across as trying to p*ss on your dreams, it’s a really hostile environment is all.

Not at all Gari, worth highlighting and goes without saying that it'd need some what-if plans and no thoughts of packing super-light, I'd take winter bivi gear anyway.