Mad Viking’s Trail - Húsadalstindur Summit - Vestrahorn loop extension
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 11.25 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,602 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Very difficult
- Elevation loss
- 2,625 ft
- Max elevation
- 2,254 ft
- TrailRank
-
82
5
- Min elevation
- 17 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 2 hours 23 minutes
- Time
- 2 hours 54 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2899
- Uploaded
- September 2, 2021
- Recorded
- September 2021
near Höfn, Austurland (Ísland)
Viewed 3310 times, downloaded 54 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Several sections across field since there’s not a clear path. The scree is serious stuff running downhill. Enjoy but remember that you are on your own and won’t find much people on this unique trail. Be safe!
Details of what to expect:
- This trail is not marked -at all. The singletrack is quite clear for most of the flat section though. Bring your GPS or the Wikiloc app with the trail and map saved for offline use.
- I did it on a sunny and dry day. On rainy, wet or foggy days I would cancel and look for another option.
- Inevitably you’ll have to step on wild musk. Be gentle with your pace and step softly to avoid damaging such a magnificent coverage on sections without a clear path.
- First 10km mostly flat and runnable. Black sand beaches and the coast are gorgeous.
- When the trail starts to climb is where I had more difficulties finding a good line without damaging the flora. No need to follow exactly my track.
- I decided to climb the Húsadalstindur peak and I think the way up which I chose was quite good and specially safe. But: do not approach too much the southern cliff with a 500 meters free fall and loose ground.
- From the saddle between the two main peaks I went all the way down running on the huge and steep scree. Luckily there’s a way out at the bottom and you can reach the viking village in no time.
The name of the trail is due to the legend of Erik a local viking who used to climb these steep peaks almost naked, or so the story goes!
Details of what to expect:
- This trail is not marked -at all. The singletrack is quite clear for most of the flat section though. Bring your GPS or the Wikiloc app with the trail and map saved for offline use.
- I did it on a sunny and dry day. On rainy, wet or foggy days I would cancel and look for another option.
- Inevitably you’ll have to step on wild musk. Be gentle with your pace and step softly to avoid damaging such a magnificent coverage on sections without a clear path.
- First 10km mostly flat and runnable. Black sand beaches and the coast are gorgeous.
- When the trail starts to climb is where I had more difficulties finding a good line without damaging the flora. No need to follow exactly my track.
- I decided to climb the Húsadalstindur peak and I think the way up which I chose was quite good and specially safe. But: do not approach too much the southern cliff with a 500 meters free fall and loose ground.
- From the saddle between the two main peaks I went all the way down running on the huge and steep scree. Luckily there’s a way out at the bottom and you can reach the viking village in no time.
The name of the trail is due to the legend of Erik a local viking who used to climb these steep peaks almost naked, or so the story goes!
Waypoints
Panorama
56 ft
Ruins
Beach
Photo
Fauna
Information point
Waypoint
River
Mountain pass
Summit
Risk
Comments (4)
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I know Iceland's interior a bit but I didn't expect this kind of landscapes and peaks by the coast! High in my list of hikes in Iceland. Thanks for sharing!
Hola Jordi! Enhorabona per la ruta. Súper ben explicada. Acabo de tornar d'Islàndia, vaig fer aquest viatge per veure expressament i fotografiar aquestes muntanyes i no vaig poder per boira. De totes formes a l'abril hi torno. Una pregunta: el cim de Kambhorn (el més punxegut) no es pot fer sense material d'escalada? Pots veure fotos d'aquest viatge meu aquí: https://adobe.ly/3yKUpn6 Gràcies!
Bones Edu, doncs no t'ho sabria dir perquè vaig tirar cap a la dreta i no m'hi vaig apropar tot i que semblava un cim espectacular. Hi ha altres usuaris de Wikiloc locals d'Islàndia que potser t'ho poden aclarir. Em vé al cap en Leifur: https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/user.do?id=9253
I have followed this trail View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Very difficult
Spectacular and lonely trail. For those who pursue tranquility and silence, this is a great option in southern Iceland. Couldn't complete it but I'll return in summer time. Thanks for sharing it!