Hikers are being warned about dangerous conditions on Fimmvörðuháls, the highland route between Skógar and Þórsmörk in South Iceland.
Ferðafélag Íslands, Útivist and the Dagrenning rescue team say glacier retreat and melting snow have exposed gullies, crevasses, steep scree and snow bridges over glacial streams.
What’s the Story?
- Glacier retreat has opened gullies and crevasses and left steep, loose slopes where snow or glacier ice previously covered the route.
- Snow bridges over glacial streams are singled out as particularly dangerous.
- Hikers are urged not to travel alone and to check conditions, carry suitable equipment and preferably travel with experienced companions or guides.
A demanding route becoming more technical
Fimmvörðuháls is a roughly 25-kilometre route between Skógafoss and Þórsmörk, crossing the high ground between Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. Iceland Review’s Fimmvörðuháls hiking guide describes it as a demanding route where weather can change quickly.
The new warning concerns changes to the ground itself as well as weather. The organisations say retreating ice has altered sections between Baldvinsskáli and Fimmvörðuhálsskáli, creating steep slopes and scree where hikers previously crossed snow or ice.
The route has a long history of rescue callouts. Iceland Review has previously covered a tourist rescued from Fimmvörðuháls after deteriorating weather and other hikers getting into difficulty in the Icelandic highlands.
The groups responsible for the route are now working to identify safer alternatives around the newly hazardous sections. Until then, hikers are asked to treat the route as a serious mountain journey rather than a maintained walking trail.
<strong>Sources:</strong> <a href=”https://varnish-21.visir.is/g/20262925399d/vara-vid-haettulegum-adstaedum-a-fimmvorduhalsi”>Vísir</a> and <a href=”https://www.fi.is/en/hiking-trails/trails/fimmvorduhals”>Ferðafélag Íslands</a>.
Source: Vísir
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