Disclaimer: F88 is banned by most rental companies, make sure that you are allowed to drive this road before attempting it. Some may allow it during certain weeks/months of the year, others not at all.
F88 (Öskjuleið) is a north-south F road between Mývatn and Möðrudalur in the north that leads to F910 and Lake Askja. It's a desolate area north of Vatnajökull glacier. The ground is a mixture of lava rock, ash, and sand and is a very harsh landscape. Underneath the smooth looking ground was a layer of mud. Sand and ash storms are kicked up by the wind moving unobstructed across the land.
I walked the river a few times and despite thinking it was doable, I decided not to take the risk. One of the main deciding factors was knowing that I wouldn't make it across the second river crossing required to get to Askja, so it was not worth risking the first crossing. A super jeep driver told me the previous day that the second crossing would be halfway up the van's doors, not possible.
I spent a LOT of time researching the road, Askja was one of the top sites I wanted to see on the trip, but I also embarked on the road knowing that it was unlikely I would make it.
Driving F roads alone, without a copilot to check your judgement adds another layer of risk. Sunk cost fallacy can be a real thing, thinking "well I've come this far!" If the road is dangerous or impassible, ALWAYS turn around. No road or site you want to see is worth the risk of totaling your vehicle, or more importantly, risking your life. People have died attempting river crossings in vehicles that were not sufficient for the conditions.
Help is far away in remote locations, and if you're alone and incapacitated, there is no one else to call for help. Be smart, especially in the highlands.
All that said, the drive was absolutely amazing, extremely remote and desolate. I only saw one other vehicle on the entire drive. I had a ton of fun and even had to get out and dance at times, feeling pure joy and living in the moment.
0:00 - Intro
0:30 - Map of route
0:46 - Talking out the start of the drive
1:09 - Start of drive
2:41 - Taking a Google 360 photo
2:54 - Back on the road
6:05 - Approaching the first river crossing
6:10 - Walking the river
6:41 - Searching for the best route
6:56 - Unsure of what to do
7:10 - Voicing my uncertainty
7:23 - The river up close
7:45 - Talking about my decision making
8:42 - Turning around to drive back
9:14 - Talking about my experiences so far
10:38 - Real time driving + joy
11:09 - Drum and bass vibing
11:27 - Back on the road
12:35 - More joyous yelling
12:47 - Me in my element
12:58 - On the road again
14:26 - Letting a Unimog camper pass
14:53 - The home stretch
15:12 - Back to the ring road!
