A foreign hiker who was rescued early morning after a massive search in the area east of Landmannalaugar highland center and oasis was an experienced mountaineer who was well equipped and prepared and reacted correctly when faced with extreme conditions yesterday evening, according to a spokesman for Landsbjörg, Iceland Search and Rescue. The man is a Swiss hiker who has visited Iceland on numerous occasions and is traveling alone.
Read more: Foreign hiker found safe on Landmannalaugar trail early morning after massive search
Guðbrandur Örn Arnarson told the local newspaper Fréttablaðið that the man had followed instructions to hikers in the highlands to the letter. He was well equipped, stayed on known hiking paths, left a detailed travel itinerary with ICE-SAR and rented an emergency transponder from ICE-SAR before embarking on the hike. As long as people have a sense of adventure and hike in the Central Highlands, these kinds of things can happen. Conditions in the area deteriorated very rapidly, Guðbrandur told Fréttablaðið.
Severe weather conditions in the southern part of the Central Highlands, yesterday, strong winds, heavy rain and snow, had already forced the man to change his travel plans. The man was making his way from Strútur mountain to Landmannalaugar highland center and oasis when he discovered he had been left stranded by the swelling of Jökulgilskvísl river.
Read more: Come prepared! Video reminds us travelling in the highlands is never a walk in the park!
The swelling water had turned the river into a raging monster. The water was too deep for all but the most powerful mountain trucks of ICE-SAR. Guðbrandur, who is an experienced mountaineer himself, told Fréttablaðið that he has also run into trouble in the valley where the Swiss hiker was rescued.
Under all normal circumstances the river is not a dangerous obstacle, but yesterday we saw extremely difficult conditions develop rapidly. Anyone could have found himself in these circumstances. I am very critical of people who embark on these hikes without proper preparation and experience. This man did everything correctly, he is familiar with the conditions and has come to Iceland on numerous occasions. He ticked all the boxes – he just forgot the luck box!
A foreign hiker who was rescued early morning after a massive search in the area east of Landmannalaugar highland center and oasis was an experienced mountaineer who was well equipped and prepared and reacted correctly when faced with extreme conditions yesterday evening, according to a spokesman for Landsbjörg, Iceland Search and Rescue. The man is a Swiss hiker who has visited Iceland on numerous occasions and is traveling alone.
Read more: Foreign hiker found safe on Landmannalaugar trail early morning after massive search
Guðbrandur Örn Arnarson told the local newspaper Fréttablaðið that the man had followed instructions to hikers in the highlands to the letter. He was well equipped, stayed on known hiking paths, left a detailed travel itinerary with ICE-SAR and rented an emergency transponder from ICE-SAR before embarking on the hike. As long as people have a sense of adventure and hike in the Central Highlands, these kinds of things can happen. Conditions in the area deteriorated very rapidly, Guðbrandur told Fréttablaðið.
Severe weather conditions in the southern part of the Central Highlands, yesterday, strong winds, heavy rain and snow, had already forced the man to change his travel plans. The man was making his way from Strútur mountain to Landmannalaugar highland center and oasis when he discovered he had been left stranded by the swelling of Jökulgilskvísl river.
Read more: Come prepared! Video reminds us travelling in the highlands is never a walk in the park!
The swelling water had turned the river into a raging monster. The water was too deep for all but the most powerful mountain trucks of ICE-SAR. Guðbrandur, who is an experienced mountaineer himself, told Fréttablaðið that he has also run into trouble in the valley where the Swiss hiker was rescued.
Under all normal circumstances the river is not a dangerous obstacle, but yesterday we saw extremely difficult conditions develop rapidly. Anyone could have found himself in these circumstances. I am very critical of people who embark on these hikes without proper preparation and experience. This man did everything correctly, he is familiar with the conditions and has come to Iceland on numerous occasions. He ticked all the boxes – he just forgot the luck box!
