How to Deal with Hypothermia while Hiking
Hypothermia is a very common condition in Iceland as our temperatures rarely reach above 20 degrees Celsius on even the hottest summer days. The nearly constant wind blowing in Iceland also creates a wind chill factor that must always be factored into clothing and equipment decisions. This means that no matter the season you need to be prepared for the elements. Prevention When hiking in Iceland you need to take extra care to manage your body temperature. If you wear too many layers while hiking you will sweat and then subsequently cool down very rapidly when you stop. To avoid this situation you need to layer down BEFORE you get too warm so you can minimize sweating. Once you stop you should immediately put on a warmer layer so that you don´t cool down too much while not moving. The fabrics you choose will also impact your comfort level. We recommend wearing wool and synthetic fabrics and NEVER wearing cotton clothing while hiking. What are the three stages of hypothermia? Stage one: Shivering Stage two: Slurred speech, slow or weak pulse, slowed breathing, clumsiness, irritability, confusion, and tiredness Stage three: Slowed breathing and loss of consciousness What to do if someone is showing signs of hypothermia? Keep them dry (the body loses heat much faster when wet or in water) Dress them in more layers (preferably wool or insulating layers) Give them a warm beverage Huddle next to them to share body heat Before setting off make sure that everyone in your party is familiar with the signs and symptoms of hypothermia. During your hike make sure that everyone is keeping an eye on each other and monitoring for beginning symptoms of hypothermia.
How To Cross A River On Foot
Depending on the depth, terrain and current of a river crossings can range from easy to hazardous. Here‘s how to make sure you get across safe: If there is a ranger nearby – ask their advice about conditions! (ex. The…
Is my 4X4 OK for river crossings on highland F-roads in Iceland?
The highland F roads in Iceland usually start to open in June with opening dates varying from year to year. Driving in the Icelandic highlands is much different from driving on Road 1. Icelandic F roads are unpaved and almost…
Driving Road 1 in Iceland in the Spring
Driving road 1 in Iceland is a popular way to see the island year round. While people are aware that winter brings extra risks and challenges they might not be aware of the challenges in spring. Here are some things to…
Spring Hiking in Iceland
Spring hiking in Iceland can be very challenging as it can be difficult to find hiking routes with suitable conditions. The spring season brings melt and thaw and with that comes EXTREMELY MUDDY CONDITIONS! We are not talking about a little bit…
Hot Spring Safety
There are 2 kind of hot springs in Iceland: #1 The lovely kind for bathing and relaxing in #2 The kind that can melt your skin off They often look the same so its important to be able to know the…
New Year’s Eve Fireworks Safety
Fireworks in Iceland are very popular on New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day and on þrettándinn (6th January). If you will spend New Year’s Eve in Iceland we advise you to keep the following in mind for a safe and enjoyable…
What Do I Do If The Ring Road Is Closed?
The ring road (highway 1) is open and serviced year round. However, a few days per year when there is very severe weather such as windstorms with blowing sand or snow storms the ring road closes. Where to check if…
Sneaker Waves at Reynisfjara Beach
Video showing large waves and sneaker wave at Reynisfjara The Black Sand Beach Reynisfjara is the popular black sand beach on the south coast of Iceland near the small town of Vík. While being famous for beautiful rock formations and…
Slippery Sidewalk Season!
During the winter sidewalks and hiking/walking trails in Iceland are often slippery. Many areas are sanded or salted but its still possible to slip and fall. We recommend using micro-spikes for slippery days. They can be easily found at gas…
Rjúpnaveiði
Skotveiði er útivist þar sem huga þarf að réttum búnaði og öryggisatriðum, auk þess að sýna ábyrga hegðun vegna skotvopna og ganga vel um landið. Veiðimenn þurfa að kynna sér vel þau svæði sem þeir ætla að fara á, fylgjast…
How to Dress for Icelandic Winter
Winter weather in Iceland can be cold and unforgiving. As a traveler you may only have a limited time to spend seeing the country. If you follow our guide and dress properly you are less likely to have to sit…
Winter Driving in Iceland
Winter driving in Iceland can be challenging so its important to prepare yourself for your trip. Before setting out check to see your lights, brakes and engine are in good working condition. Recommended equipment for winter driving in Iceland: Snow…
How to Read the Road Conditions in Iceland
The Road Administration of Iceland (Vegagerðin) has a frequently updated website with conditions of the main roads all around the country. Road conditions are indicated by colour, with some icons offering additional information. Once on the homepage, you see if there…
What Does Impassable Really Mean?
After the first snowfall of the fall/winter an F-road or mountain roads in Iceland can be marked impassable due to snow. This means that from when it is marked impassable until summer it won’t be monitored and people go there at their…
How to Read the Weather Forecast in Iceland
The Icelandic Met Office has a website available in English, however, it can still be a bit tricky to interpret the forecast if you are not used to this format. Before we explain the forecast, its important to note that…
Fall Hiking/Camping Essentials
The midnight sun is long gone and fall has arrived in Iceland. Now that the seasons have changed your hiking gear will need to change a bit as well. Below is a list of some essentials for hiking at this…
When Do the Highlands Close?
We are often asked when the Laugavegur / Fimmvörðuháls trail / the highlands open and close each year. Accessibility to the highlands depends a lot on the time of year so below is a guideline of accessibility to the highlands…
Drone Safety in Iceland
In recent years drones have become very popular and available to the mainstream public. Below is a video created by the Icelandic Transport Authority about the use of drones in Iceland: This video created by a French mountain awareness organization shows the importance…
Northern Lights Safety in Iceland
Autumn is coming which means that northern lights (aurora borealis) viewing season has arrived in Iceland. In this article Safetravel will advise you on how to view the northern lights while keeping your safety and the safety of others in…
A Guide for Hiking in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
Nature Reserve (established in 1975) in the Westfjords is known for its remote setting and dramatic landscapes. The 580 km² nature reserve is only accessible by boat during the summertime as there are no roads. The nature reserve is an…
How to Pack for Multi-Day Hiking in Iceland (Summer Edition)
Safetravel has detailed packing lists for hiking in Iceland as seen here. This guide will provide more insight into those packing lists as well as explain how and where to pack these items. The first step to packing for a multi day…
The Laugavegur Trail
For our first official blog post we will start with an intro to Iceland’s most famous hiking trail: The Laugavegur Trail. Landmannalaugar The Laugavegur is a 54 km well marked trail in the highlands of Iceland which starts in Landmannalaugar…
Welcome to our Blog!
Welcome to the Safetravel blog! We want to bring you more in depth information on topics you are interested in. We will use this platform to talk about safety in Iceland, backpacking, camping, and any adventure topics you want…