The mountaineer Thorvaldur Thórsson plans to climb Iceland’s 100 highest mountains this year, having already summited 47 peaks. On Tuesday Thórsson climbed the country’s five highest mountains in one day.
The five highest mountains are all on Vatnajökull glacier: Káratindur, Thurídartindur, Mikill, Heljargnípa and Mávabyggdir and the total distance between them is 50 km, Morgunbladid reports.
“I had a good sleeping bag, an extra bag and a heating device, so if I’d gotten into trouble I could have stayed on the glacier. I had enough food, but the backpack was heavy during the 50 km that I hiked,” Thórsson said.
The mountaineer was alone despite the danger of falling into a crevasse in the glacier. He used skis for crossing the glacier, which is safer than hiking by foot.
Thórsson turns 50 next fall and hopes to finish his mission by then. According to him, the most difficult mountains are already behind him.
Next he plans to climb Mýrdalsjökull glacier, Hofsjökull glacer or Kverkfjöll mountains. Thórsson said he hoped that by the time he climbs the volcano Hekla, which most people can climb, more hikers will join him.
Thórsson, who works as a computer scientist at Vistor hf., is an experienced mountaineer and ice climber. He has been nicknamed “tindahöfdinginn” or “the summit chief” because of his mission.
