I wake up to overcast skies and a light, intermittent rain falling. Day two in the Faroe Islands. Today I randomly decide to hike the Saksun trail and see what treasures may lie within.
The drive is lovely, even with the light rain and dark clouds shrouding the mountain tops. The two lane highway quickly becomes a one lane country road as I get closer to the destination. I quickly learn the Faroese way of courtesy driving along this one lane road, and safely arrive to the town of Saksun, population 11.
I learn that the land is owned by a single farmer, and has been part of the same family for generations. They allow people to hike the trail, but must stay on the path and not trespass onto their land. Respectfully, I admire the grass thatch roofs of the homes as I make my way to the trail. The rain has everything slick, and it will be slow going for me unless I want to twist an ankle….
I take in the stunning inlet as I start to make my way up the mountainside, the multiple waterfalls streaming down the rocky terrain is music to my ears as I go.
Clouds roll along the high valley, occasionally letting the sun faintly shine through. I am in utter amazement as I go, looking for wildlife while trying not to slip and fall. I see no one else on the trail the deeper i venture into the foreign land.
Sheep look at me curiously as I go, as well as a gander of geese. I think I see a deer, but I then realize it is a giant hare, the biggest rabbit I’ve ever seen, and certainly larger than anything one would find in the United States. Wet and wild is my day two adventure. I come to the edge of my second high valley crossing just as the clouds depart for a moment, letting me see the village of Tjornuvik for the first time….
The hike ends at the bottom of this mountain in the village itself, but the rain starts to fall harder. I decide to not complete this hike as the trail has turned into a river, and the possibility of injuring myself is too great. I turn around after taking in the majestic views while they last, and start trudging back to Saksun.
Six hours later I see the original fjord that lies beneath Saksun, as well as my car parked next to the church. The rain is really falling now, and I lose the trail temporarily. I slip and slide down the mountain until finally coming back to a portion of the trail that isn’t covered with water.
The waterfalls are roaring now, the sounds mimicking my own internal joy I’m feeling just being in such a special place. I realize how lucky I am, as many have not even heard of the Faroe Islands, let alone know where it is located or have the opportunity to come here themselves.
