<\/div>\n

There are regular tours and vacations for regular people, and they are very.. um… nice. \u00a0They really are. \u00a0In fact we’re taking a cruise in December. \u00a0They’re easy, and safe and can be very entertaining, not to mention relaxing. \u00a0“Ahhh, I think I’ll read on the beach or maybe take a nap.”<\/div>\n

The descent into\u00a0Thrihnukagigur isn’t one of them.<\/div>\n

I guess Winnie and I aren’t what you might call full-time “regular”, because… Oh, heck, I don’t know… \u00a0We just tend to gravitate toward trips that are a bit more \u00a0intrepid, exotic and unusual. Beautiful scenery and great fellow adventurer\/travelers are real plusses, too.<\/div>\n

The descent into\u00a0Thrihnukagigur definitely IS one of these “irregular” adventures. The\u00a0query\u00a0“Are\u00a0you going into the volcano?” is burning up travel agent land lines as we speak. \u00a0When told of our plans, our friends here in America generally responded with the question “Are you both *#%*ing crazy?”<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

This professionally produced trailer provides a good introduction to this new trip:<\/div>\n

<\/iframe><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<h4>Images from our stroll<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I was a little concerned about whether my beat-up health profile was “up to” the trek. \u00a0I’m somewhat older, and definitely high-mileage. \u00a0What few brochures we could find clearly stated that “Those who opt to take the tour need to be ‘relatively fit’, as it involves a three kilometer fast-paced trek across a ragged lava field trail to the Base Camp at lip of the crater (and a return hike on re-emergence from the chamber)”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6322\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090158-2-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1423\" height=\"1067\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090158-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090158-2-600x450.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090158-2-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090158-2-768x576.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090158-2-705x529.jpg 705w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090158-2-987x740.jpg 987w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1423px) 100vw, 1423px\" \/><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Iceland\u2019s propensity for sudden explosions and subterranean earthquake swarms can be explained by its position on the planet. Although the country appears to be an island, it is actually the highest point of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a long chain of underwater mountains.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Iceland also sits at a point where the North American and Eurasian continental plates meet. The two plates are slowly drifting apart, leading to tearing in the Earth\u2019s crust. \u00a0This ‘cracking’ leads to the expulsion of magma and other ejecta through our little blue planet’s crust.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Also,\u00a0the locals say that the island usually has a major eruption about once every three years. \u00a0It had been <u>four<\/u> years since\u00a0the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted with great force in March 2010, spewing out a vast cloud of ash and other ejecta that caused huge problems for the airline industry across Northern Europe. \u00a0Iceland was a year overdue. \u00a0Was this an opportune time to be going down into an “extinct” 4000 year old volcano? \u00a0Well, the travel folks assured us that this expedition was absolutely safe. \u00a0Would they fib to us? \u00a0Nyahh… We’re IN! \u00a0 Let’s go!<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div>I was by FAR the most… um… ‘senior’ person on the trek.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6349\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090048-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1432\" height=\"1074\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090048-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090048-600x450.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090048-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090048-768x576.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090048-705x529.jpg 705w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090048-987x740.jpg 987w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1432px) 100vw, 1432px\" \/><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The official Silverback on the trek<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">The good news: \u00a0What I lack in health, I make up for in stubborn. Also, there were several stops along the way (pant, pant, huff, puff) for some great mine-lectures on volcanic geology (our guide made it fun and interesting at the same time).<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Oh… And elves. \u00a0Yes, elves. \u00a0Icelanders believe in Elves. \u00a0We learned what they might look like, where they live, and the proper courtesy to extend to strangers you meet who might, in fact, really be an elf!<br \/>\nNota bene: \u00a0I am now a believer. \u00a0Be nice to everyone. \u00a0You never know if that person you met might really be a elf!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-6350\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090188-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090188-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090188-600x800.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090188-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090188-705x940.jpg 705w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090188-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">What an elf MIGHT look like !<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">The eruption that formed\u00a0Thrihnukagigur\u00a04000 years ago was unique in that the magma didn’t solidify at the\u00a0surface sealing the hole forever. \u00a0It only gelled on the walls of the throat. \u00a0In this case,\u00a0Haraldur Sigurdsson, a local volcanologist, stated that\u00a0\u2018It is like somebody came and pulled the lower plug, and all the magma ran down out of it.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-6354\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2014-08-015939-1024x725.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"725\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2014-08-015939-1024x725.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2014-08-015939-600x425.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2014-08-015939-300x213.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2014-08-015939-768x544.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2014-08-015939-705x499.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">We’re looking at the wall of a lava tube. \u00a0It was formed by rock so hot that it’s liquified, under intense pressure, and oozing through kilometer after kilometer of holes, cracks and fissures.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6355\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2014-08-015953-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1539\" height=\"1026\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2014-08-015953-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2014-08-015953-600x400.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2014-08-015953-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2014-08-015953-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2014-08-015953-705x470.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1539px) 100vw, 1539px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">“Geared-up” and ready for the descent!<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6351\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090072-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1543\" height=\"1157\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090072-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090072-600x450.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090072-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090072-768x576.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090072-705x529.jpg 705w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/P1090072-987x740.jpg 987w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1543px) 100vw, 1543px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">We have finally arrived at the pinnacle of the cinder cone that we’ll be exploring. \u00a0Our guide is explaining the harnessing procedure for our descent. \u00a0After harnessing up, we’ll walk out to the end of this “bridge to nowhere” to catch our ride on the window washing platform that National Geographic commissioned the Germans to build\/install a few years ago.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">And if Germans built it… I’ll ride on it!<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-6371\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090073-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090073-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090073-600x450.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090073-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090073-768x576.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090073-705x529.jpg 705w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090073-987x740.jpg 987w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>We’re going down there?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Yes. \u00a0Waaay past where the cables go out of sight. \u00a0I’m pondering the fact that there have been more humans in space than have ever been to the bottom of this pit into Hades. \u00a0Uber cool! \u00a0See the rollers on the side of our German window-washer platform? \u00a0They’re there to help squeeze our little platform through a rather tight bottleneck many meters from the surface. \u00a0I would NOT want to get stuck on this “elevator” dangling a couple hundred feet above the boulders strewn about the floor somewhere below us!<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6372 \" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015956-2-1024x683.jpg\" width=\"1356\" height=\"905\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015956-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015956-2-600x400.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015956-2-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015956-2-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015956-2-705x470.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1356px) 100vw, 1356px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Starting down. \u00a0We’re excited!<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">About half-way down and descending, I leaned out sideways over the end of our window-washing platform… First part of the clip is looking back up (again, sideways, remember?)…<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">thence panning downward toward our goal.<\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"DscntVolcano\" width=\"950\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ag9XsXl7XjI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Water continually seeps from tiny cracks in the rock. \u00a0The deeper into the abyss we descended, the larger the drops of water got. \u00a0For some reason, it struck our whole group (five of us on a window-washer platform) as funny. \u00a0It’s hilarious to see a giant drop of water smack down dead center on the top of someone’s helmet. We laughed and laughed. \u00a0What a fun group of folks.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6373\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015958-1024x646.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1549\" height=\"977\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015958-1024x646.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015958-600x378.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015958-300x189.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015958-768x484.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015958-705x444.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1549px) 100vw, 1549px\" \/><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">One last peek over the edge of the platform before it’s time to tuck in and squeeze through the narrows. \u00a0Adding to our excitement and anticipation, we’re beginning to be able to see through the water droplets all the way down to some of the larger boulders strewn about the floor.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: right;\">And, as we descend further and further into the depths, we begin\u00a0to see some colour burned into the cinder-black lava rock! \u00a0 Here’s some purple and magenta that has been burned into the rock by the intense heat of the eruption.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6390 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015999.jpg\" width=\"666\" height=\"997\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015999.jpg 410w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015999-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Almost There!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6374\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090077-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1332\" height=\"999\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090077-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090077-600x450.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090077-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090077-768x576.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090077-705x529.jpg 705w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090077-987x740.jpg 987w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1332px) 100vw, 1332px\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">One may either politely stand on the landing\/take-off platform until the next departure, or waltz down the Grand Stairway, throwing caution to the wind in search of adventure and beauty. \u00a0I’ve never been down the throat of a volcano before. \u00a0Heck, there have been more humans in space than there have been here in this giant, empty, magma chamber.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Onward, Through the Fog!<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Another descent successfully completed, after climbing off the landing platform, shooters prep their cameras for Subterranean Shooting. \u00a0With growing anxiety and tension, I fumble with my Canon… looking on it’s top… sides… front… Sh*t! \u00a0The ‘PRNDL’ has M, Av, Tv, P… but no damned “S” for subterranean.” \u00a0Alas, woe is me. \u00a0I’d never SS’d before! \u00a0So now you know. \u00a0These images are all experimental. \u00a0My very first lesson in underground shooting. \u00a0Ha! \u00a0I LAUGH in the face of Inexperience! \u00a0Undaunted, I press ahead…<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6376\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015972-1024x658.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1378\" height=\"886\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015972-1024x658.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015972-600x385.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015972-300x193.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015972-768x493.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015972-705x453.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1378px) 100vw, 1378px\" \/><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Here, we catch our breath as our guide explains how the extreme temperatures and pressures of the ejected magma coloured different materials (types of rock and soil) differently. \u00a0Copper (Cu) burns green, etc. \u00a0Geeze this guy was not only quite knowledgeable, but it occurred to me that he seemed genuinely nice, too. \u00a0I’m beginning to really like Icelanders and their country.<\/div>\n<div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Briefing complete, we head out to the nearest trail.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-6378\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015981-1024x877.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"877\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Winnie on the Trail<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">NEWS FLASH: \u00a0There are no trails. \u00a0You will be climbing across boulders the size of limos (and larger), or that damned aggravating scree dislodged from previous earthquakes. \u00a0 Scree’s worse than boulders for us\u00a0oldsters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6379\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090110-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"714\" height=\"952\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090110-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090110-600x800.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090110-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090110-705x940.jpg 705w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090110-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 714px) 100vw, 714px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Tim blazes a “trail”. \u00a0If you can climb over it, then by popular definition… “it’s a trail”. \u00a0 And I’m just loving it. \u00a0“They” don’t let you do this kind of shit in the U.S.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Long Live\u00a0Iceland!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">But enough of that, let’s go look for some of those “alleged colours” they were talking about topside.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6375\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015975-1024x939.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1016\" height=\"931\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015975-1024x939.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015975-600x550.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015975-300x275.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015975-768x704.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/5D3-015975-705x647.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0Winnie and Jon try to mentally and photographically capture the colours and dimension of this chamber. \u00a0Tough…<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">I advance to their previous position, look up, and discover the slash of colour that they were looking at, moments before…<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">In this image, I shoot the wall from where they were standing in the previous pic. \u00a0I’m still (to this day) trying to get my head around ‘the intensity of the pastels’. \u00a0I know, I know, “intense” and “pastels” should never be used in the same sentence. \u00a0I wish\u00a0that you could\u00a0have been there so that you, too, could have experienced it first hand.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-6396\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015979-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015979-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015979-600x400.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015979-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015979-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-015979-705x470.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">This pic reminds me of a graphic interpretation of a thermogram that might measure the intensity of the heat’s effect on the stone.. \u00a0this streak could have been caused by a difference in heat…or a difference in the make-up of the rock. \u00a0I’m betting on “Heat”. \u00a0Just a hunch… \u00a0Your thoughts?<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-6380\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090113-1024x724.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"724\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090113-1024x724.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090113-600x424.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090113-300x212.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090113-768x543.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090113-705x498.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Centerfold: \u00a0Geologist’s Monthly magazine<br \/>\nand if that’s not absolutely true, it Should be.<br \/>\n(but I love the colours)<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-6381\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090127-1024x1018.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1018\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090127-1024x1018.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090127-100x100.jpg 100w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090127-600x597.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090127-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090127-300x298.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090127-768x764.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090127-109x109.jpg 109w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090127-705x701.jpg 705w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1090127-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0And finally, yours truly next to the “drop zone” shooting into the blackness, looking for our ride back to the top.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">It was with a deep sense of awe at how tiny and fragile we are that we began our ascent to daylight. \u00a0But there was more to see on the way up…<\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"2014 08 016005\" width=\"950\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/r-rDiMD8uZI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">The brief clip, taken during our ascent to the surface above, exhibits one last bit of evidence of the unimaginably intense heat during the eruption. \u00a0Can you imagine solid rock being so hot that it oozes and drips down the sides of the chute right after the plug was pulled downstream, emptying it?<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6385\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-016012-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1554\" height=\"1035\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-016012-1024x682.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-016012-600x399.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-016012-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-016012-768x511.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-016012-705x469.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1554px) 100vw, 1554px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div>Back topside, cheers for a wonderful, successful adventure in Iceland! \u00a0Yay!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6384\" src=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-016014-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1343\" height=\"896\" srcset=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-016014-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-016014-600x400.jpg 600w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-016014-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-016014-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2014-08-016014-705x470.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1343px) 100vw, 1343px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div>And someone, whom shall remain un-named, left his mark on this magnificent, beautiful island.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div>Adieu, Iceland. \u00a0Until we meet again.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Descent intoThrihnukagigur Volcano There are regular tours and vacations for regular people, and they are very.. um… nice. \u00a0They really are. \u00a0In fact we’re taking a cruise in December. \u00a0They’re easy, and safe and can be very entertaining, not to mention relaxing. \u00a0“Ahhh, I think I’ll read on the beach or maybe take a nap.” … <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/icelandthrihnukagigur\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> “ICELAND, Thrihnukagigur Volcano”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[59,8,9],"tags":[85,83,84],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6315"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6315"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6894,"href":"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6315\/revisions\/6894"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/timdurhamphotography.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}