A crossing of the mighty Vatnajökull Ice cap is something that should be on the list for every ambitious adventurer. There are not many places in the world where it is possible to do an engaging expedition of this level in as short a time, gaining experience and having experiences that other ways would take weeks to accumulate – and all done under one´s own power.
When we part with the modified vehicle that brings the team on to the Ice Cap we are fully exposed to the elements and totally reliant on our equipment, skills, training and the leadership of the IMG guide.
On the endless ice we will battle conditions ranging from extreme colds and strong wind to extreme heat when the sun comes out and bounces off the snow. Out the endless ocean of snow and ice rises the Grímsvötn area, a geothermal oasis in the middle of the glacier. There we will find the most amazing hut, naturally heated with a shower and a steam bath. This takes nothing away from the expedition but adds a layer where we push the reset button, recover and rest before heading out again for the second half of the trip.
This is the type of adventure that changes and defines you. As we reach the edge of the Ice Cap, we will talk of sleeping in a bed, not having to pitch tents and build snow walls, the food we have missed… but deep within we will wish that we could turn around and do it all again. And the next time we read about the great explorers, Amundsen, Captain Scott and Shackleton we know a little what it was like, and we share the fire that fueled those great explorers.
Icelandic Mountain Guides assume no responsibility for the addictive nature of expedition life.