S N Æ F E L L S N E S

The dormant volcano Snæfell, covered by the icecap Snæfellsjökull, inspired Jules Verne to use it as his entry point to parts unknown in ``Journey to the Centre of the Earth." After much-needed sleep, with 4WD I can get three-quarters of the way to the summit before the road (already difficult to make out) vanishes into a large river of snow and ice. Without the aid of snow-cats I can go no further and have to turn back.