Members of Iceland Search and Rescue were busy last night, assisting travellers in distress. Overnight and early morning four groups of travellers were assisted on Mosfellsheiði heath on the road between Þingvellir National Park and Reykjavík. Late last night a couple of hikers who had gotten lost while hiking from the geothermal area in Reykjadalur valley east of Reykjavík received assistance to get to safety.
Remember: No Weather alert doesn't mean ideal travel weather
While there was no Weather Alert in effect, the weather yesterday evening was far from ideal for hiking or travel on heaths or mountain roads. Heavy snow, sleet and strong winds limited visibility severely and made for very difficult driving conditions on roads at higher elevation.
Drivers in distress on Golden Circle
At three in the morning ICE-SAR in Reykjavík received a call asking for assistance in getting four groups of travellers down from Mosfellsheiði heath. The people had gotten their cars stuck in snow on the heath. The drivers of towtrucks who had initially attempted to get to the people had turned back after seeing conditions on the heath. ICE-SAR reached the people and was able to pull three of the cars out of the snow and then escort the people to safety.
The operation went well, and the people had all bee escorted to Reykjavík shortly before seven.
The fourth car was too deep in snow for ICE-SAR to pull the car out. The passengers of this vehicle got a lift back to Reykjavík with the ICE-SAR crew, while the driver of the car waited in the vehicle for the heath to be plowed. He decided to wait for the IRCA snowplow, and was planning to get down from the heath that way, a spokesman for ICE-SAR told the local news site Vísir.
Hikers lost in snowstorm after dark
A second ICE-SAR operation last night involved two people who had hiked to the geothermal area in Reykjadalur valley north of the town of Hveragerði in South Iceland. The people got lost in the darkness and the sleet and hail storm which further reduced visibility in the area. The people couldn't find the walking path they were supposed to follow back down from the mountains. Members of ICE-SAR companies from the towns of Hveragerði and Eyrarbakki helped the people find their way back to safety.
Winter travellers in Iceland are urged to pay close attention to the weather forecast, all weather alerts and road conditions as well as travel alerts from ICE -SAR before embarking on any travel outside urban areas.
Members of Iceland Search and Rescue were busy last night, assisting travellers in distress. Overnight and early morning four groups of travellers were assisted on Mosfellsheiði heath on the road between Þingvellir National Park and Reykjavík. Late last night a couple of hikers who had gotten lost while hiking from the geothermal area in Reykjadalur valley east of Reykjavík received assistance to get to safety.
Remember: No Weather alert doesn't mean ideal travel weather
While there was no Weather Alert in effect, the weather yesterday evening was far from ideal for hiking or travel on heaths or mountain roads. Heavy snow, sleet and strong winds limited visibility severely and made for very difficult driving conditions on roads at higher elevation.
Drivers in distress on Golden Circle
At three in the morning ICE-SAR in Reykjavík received a call asking for assistance in getting four groups of travellers down from Mosfellsheiði heath. The people had gotten their cars stuck in snow on the heath. The drivers of towtrucks who had initially attempted to get to the people had turned back after seeing conditions on the heath. ICE-SAR reached the people and was able to pull three of the cars out of the snow and then escort the people to safety.
The operation went well, and the people had all bee escorted to Reykjavík shortly before seven.
The fourth car was too deep in snow for ICE-SAR to pull the car out. The passengers of this vehicle got a lift back to Reykjavík with the ICE-SAR crew, while the driver of the car waited in the vehicle for the heath to be plowed. He decided to wait for the IRCA snowplow, and was planning to get down from the heath that way, a spokesman for ICE-SAR told the local news site Vísir.
Hikers lost in snowstorm after dark
A second ICE-SAR operation last night involved two people who had hiked to the geothermal area in Reykjadalur valley north of the town of Hveragerði in South Iceland. The people got lost in the darkness and the sleet and hail storm which further reduced visibility in the area. The people couldn't find the walking path they were supposed to follow back down from the mountains. Members of ICE-SAR companies from the towns of Hveragerði and Eyrarbakki helped the people find their way back to safety.
Winter travellers in Iceland are urged to pay close attention to the weather forecast, all weather alerts and road conditions as well as travel alerts from ICE -SAR before embarking on any travel outside urban areas.
