A foreign traveler who had ignored weather warnings and embarked on a hike on Fimmvörðuháls trail between Þórsmörk valley and Skógar waterfall was rescued by ICE-SAR volunteers yesterday evening. Conditions in the area where the man was hiking were dismal: Snowfall and strong wind. IMO had issued a Yellow Weather Alert for South Iceland and the Central Highlands earlier in the day.
Read more: Severe weather alert: No travel weather in SE, E, NE Iceland or Central Highlands
ICE-SAR received the distress call shortly after eight yesterday evening. Nearly thirty ICE-SAR members, all of whom are volunteers who leave their families and jobs to assist people in distress, headed out to rescue the traveler, who was a man, traveling alone. The rescuers were able to identify the man's location from his description of the surroundings. He was instructed to stay put and wait for rescue.
According to the National Broadcasting Service RÚV the rescuers were able to locate the man without much trouble, and gave him a lift to Skógar village where he arrived shortly after 23:00 (11 pm). He was cold and tired but otherwise in good condition.
Read more: German travelers rescued on Fimmvörðuháls trail failed to check weather warnings
ICE-SAR urges hikers to show common sense and check the weather forecast before heading out for hikes in the Central Highlands or on mountain trails like Fimmvörðuháls. Conditions are far from ideal, as many paths and roads are still covered in snow. A spokesman for ICE-SAR told RÚV that the frequent requests for rescue in recent days should serve as a reminder how treacherous the Central Highlands can be. People should under no circumstances head out for hikes in the highlands without proper equipment and training, or without first checking conditions.
Too many travelers seem to overestimate their abilities and underestimate Icelandic conditions.
Pro tip: The IMO and ICE-SAR only issue severe weather alerts when travelers need to be alerted to severe weather: These alerts are real and need to be taken seriously.
A foreign traveler who had ignored weather warnings and embarked on a hike on Fimmvörðuháls trail between Þórsmörk valley and Skógar waterfall was rescued by ICE-SAR volunteers yesterday evening. Conditions in the area where the man was hiking were dismal: Snowfall and strong wind. IMO had issued a Yellow Weather Alert for South Iceland and the Central Highlands earlier in the day.
Read more: Severe weather alert: No travel weather in SE, E, NE Iceland or Central Highlands
ICE-SAR received the distress call shortly after eight yesterday evening. Nearly thirty ICE-SAR members, all of whom are volunteers who leave their families and jobs to assist people in distress, headed out to rescue the traveler, who was a man, traveling alone. The rescuers were able to identify the man's location from his description of the surroundings. He was instructed to stay put and wait for rescue.
According to the National Broadcasting Service RÚV the rescuers were able to locate the man without much trouble, and gave him a lift to Skógar village where he arrived shortly after 23:00 (11 pm). He was cold and tired but otherwise in good condition.
Read more: German travelers rescued on Fimmvörðuháls trail failed to check weather warnings
ICE-SAR urges hikers to show common sense and check the weather forecast before heading out for hikes in the Central Highlands or on mountain trails like Fimmvörðuháls. Conditions are far from ideal, as many paths and roads are still covered in snow. A spokesman for ICE-SAR told RÚV that the frequent requests for rescue in recent days should serve as a reminder how treacherous the Central Highlands can be. People should under no circumstances head out for hikes in the highlands without proper equipment and training, or without first checking conditions.
Too many travelers seem to overestimate their abilities and underestimate Icelandic conditions.
Pro tip: The IMO and ICE-SAR only issue severe weather alerts when travelers need to be alerted to severe weather: These alerts are real and need to be taken seriously.
