A Czech hiker broke into a mountain lodge in East Iceland, causing significant damages. The man had been warned repeatedly that weather conditions were such that it was not advisable to embark upon the hike. He did not heed these warnings.
Disregarded warnings about the weather
The man left on foot from Borgarfjörður eystri fjord to the town of Seyðisfjörður in Seyðisfjörður fjord, a long hike along a mountain route. A number of mountain huts along the route offer refuge to hikers, but these huts are only open during the summer.
According to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV the hiker had been warned repeatedly that the weather forecast was such that hiking was not advisable and that all huts along the trail were closed. The man refused to listen to the warnings, claiming he was prepared, and left anyway.
Swift action by Search and Rescue teams avoids even greater damage
Search and rescue teams from the village of Borgarfjörður left immediately, following the man. They eventually found him after he had managed to break down the front door of a mountain hut in Húsavík bay, south of Borgarfjörður eystri fjord. The man was handed over to the police in East Iceland and charged with vandalism. He explained that his rain-poncho had blown off, leaving all his equipment soaking wet. He had therefore been forced to break into the mountain hut to dry his equipment.
Þórhallur Þorsteinsson, the director of the Touring Association of Fljótsdalshérað tells RÚV that when the hiker broke into the hut he destroyed the entire front door. The damages were valued at 150,000 ISK (1,140 USD, 1,070 EUR), which the traveller paid once he had been taken to the police.
Inexplicable behaviour
Þórhallur told RÚV that had the break-in not been discovered immediately the damage would have been significantly greater. “It would have rained and snowed into the hut over the next weeks, causing enormous damage to the hut.” He adds that since the man knew full well that the huts along the trail were all closed his actions make “one wonder with what kind of attitude some people travel around the country.”
A Czech hiker broke into a mountain lodge in East Iceland, causing significant damages. The man had been warned repeatedly that weather conditions were such that it was not advisable to embark upon the hike. He did not heed these warnings.
Disregarded warnings about the weather
The man left on foot from Borgarfjörður eystri fjord to the town of Seyðisfjörður in Seyðisfjörður fjord, a long hike along a mountain route. A number of mountain huts along the route offer refuge to hikers, but these huts are only open during the summer.
According to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV the hiker had been warned repeatedly that the weather forecast was such that hiking was not advisable and that all huts along the trail were closed. The man refused to listen to the warnings, claiming he was prepared, and left anyway.
Swift action by Search and Rescue teams avoids even greater damage
Search and rescue teams from the village of Borgarfjörður left immediately, following the man. They eventually found him after he had managed to break down the front door of a mountain hut in Húsavík bay, south of Borgarfjörður eystri fjord. The man was handed over to the police in East Iceland and charged with vandalism. He explained that his rain-poncho had blown off, leaving all his equipment soaking wet. He had therefore been forced to break into the mountain hut to dry his equipment.
Þórhallur Þorsteinsson, the director of the Touring Association of Fljótsdalshérað tells RÚV that when the hiker broke into the hut he destroyed the entire front door. The damages were valued at 150,000 ISK (1,140 USD, 1,070 EUR), which the traveller paid once he had been taken to the police.
Inexplicable behaviour
Þórhallur told RÚV that had the break-in not been discovered immediately the damage would have been significantly greater. “It would have rained and snowed into the hut over the next weeks, causing enormous damage to the hut.” He adds that since the man knew full well that the huts along the trail were all closed his actions make “one wonder with what kind of attitude some people travel around the country.”
