Up mount Etna in an 80

[THL]

Thought some on here might enjoy these pictures I took when I helped map a bit of Mount Etna last week. My Dad has been studying Etna for 49 years and aways had Land Rovers to do the job until he bought this second hand Landcruiser 80 in 2007. For the last 11 years its been faithfully doing the 3300 round trip from Hertfordshire to Nicolosi along with a good 3000 miles off road on Etna over the 8 week trip. In his opinion its better both on and off road, more reliable and lugs more equipment than any Land Rover he's had.

Huge thanks to @Trevor for the front axle rebuild , PAS pump install along with numerous advice and patience . Also @chapel gate for parts.

First day is mostly motorway and we normally stay with his friends in the alps, unfortunately they weren't in so we had to slum it on the first night at the only open hotel nearby

Second day starts with great scenery and a nice stop for a drink

End of the second day approaching another mate's house just outside Rome.

Loading onto the ferry bound for Sicily at the end of the third day

Up with great weather, surveying on the flanks of Etna's South East crater.

Then the weather changed

It was about this point that a large thunderstorm rolled in, there was so much static that anything metal buzzed; helmets, watches etc . Dashed back to the Landcruiser as this is a perfect faraday cage

It decided to snow briefly

We retreated down to the lower slopes to find better weather and carry out some dry tilt.

Next day was the same story, lots of fog and rain but no snow

Quick stop at the buried house

I only had a few days down there and flew back but the 80 seemed to handle everything. Alot of the access roads have washed away as Sicily seems to have swapped weather with the UK this summer, the Landcruiser didn't mind one bit.

 

[Michael Montgomery]

Wow thanks for sharing........you did that on good old fashion road types?

 

[THL]

TBH I've no idea

Its doesn't go off road apart from this trip once a year so I suspect its on road tyres, didn't buzz on the way down.

 

[nick_the_fish]

Your dad has a cool job! Great photos.

 

[StarCruiser]

Great photos and clearly a far more comfortable and reliable ride on road in the 80. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Gr8Yota]

great pictures looks an interesting trip

 

[clivehorridge]

Your dad has a cool job! Great photos.

I was going to say, what does he do for a living, surveying Etna sounds more like a paid holiday than work

Great photos and story, thanks for posting....

 

[chapel gate]

great pics toby. thanks for sharing. sounds like your dad has a really interesting job. is the surveying to see when shes gonna blow again or in the interest of science?
out of interest can anyone go up there or is it a "restricted area"?

 

[THL]

The surveying is to monitor ground deformation and from that see if there is any correlation between that and eruptions. The by-product is a chronological series of maps from the late 1960s up until the present day which have their own value. He's made some pretty big discoveries though;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43522169

The whole area is heavily restricted for vehicles, only 'official tourist 4x4s buses' and those who have obtained permits (not an easy task) can take vehicles up. On foot however you can go where you like but its not advisable. People have been killed by escaping gases and more commonly lightening strikes.

 

[THL]

@clivehorridge - If only it was paid .

In essence you send off your theory to various scientific institutions, if they like the sound of it and can use your data they send you a grant. Sadly not many grants about and lots apply so they are quite thin the ground. Now he's retired he uses his pension to finance the trips and the students pay to attend for a week or two, get field experience and get to use the data collected for their thesis.

 

[clivehorridge]

@clivehorridge - If only it was paid .

In essence you send off your theory to various scientific institutions, if they like the sound of it and can use your data they send you a grant. Sadly not many grants about and lots apply so they are quite thin the ground. Now he's retired he uses his pension to finance the trips and the students pay to attend for a week or two, get field experience and get to use the data collected for their thesis.

Very interesting....

A lovely way to spend retirement if you have the know-how and experience, I like that idea a lot, hats off to your dad, I say