A group of six mountaineers completed their journey across Vatnajökull glacier yesterday. The men crossed Iceland’s largest ice cap on cross country skis to raise awareness for Guðmundur Pálmason, a firefighter and member of the search and rescue team in Dalvík, North Iceland, who was recently diagnosed with Wilson disease, a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder in which copper accumulates in tissues. Guðmundur now faces a long and difficult rehabilitation, according to Daði Valdimarsson, one of the hikers.
Read more: Ice tongues on the Southeast side of Vatnajökull glacier are disappearing
The group hiked more than 125 kilometres (78 miles) in six days, beginning their journey at the edge of Brúarjökull outlet glacier in the northeast, ending it at the edge of Tugnárjökull outlet glacier in the west.
Weather conditions during the trip were variable, says Daði. “We had three days of sun and amazing views, but very limited visibility during the other three days. It was as the glacier and the sky became one,” he told Morgunblaðið newspaper.
A group of six mountaineers completed their journey across Vatnajökull glacier yesterday. The men crossed Iceland’s largest ice cap on cross country skis to raise awareness for Guðmundur Pálmason, a firefighter and member of the search and rescue team in Dalvík, North Iceland, who was recently diagnosed with Wilson disease, a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder in which copper accumulates in tissues. Guðmundur now faces a long and difficult rehabilitation, according to Daði Valdimarsson, one of the hikers.
Read more: Ice tongues on the Southeast side of Vatnajökull glacier are disappearing
The group hiked more than 125 kilometres (78 miles) in six days, beginning their journey at the edge of Brúarjökull outlet glacier in the northeast, ending it at the edge of Tugnárjökull outlet glacier in the west.
Weather conditions during the trip were variable, says Daði. “We had three days of sun and amazing views, but very limited visibility during the other three days. It was as the glacier and the sky became one,” he told Morgunblaðið newspaper.
