66°North climbs Europe's biggest glacier to increase public awareness of global warming.

66°North in cooperation with Icelandic Mountain Guides have since the beginning of the year offered an extensive training plan for a mass ascent of Hvannadalshnukur (2.100 m), the peak of Vatnajökull glacier, Europe's biggest glacier. Beyond the pursuit of adventure and sport, the goal of the mass ascent is to raise awareness of global warming and the marked increase in world glacial melt.

Over 220 people signed in the program and have since the beginning of the year been active in mountain hiking and once a week the group climbs one of the mountains surrounding Reykjavík, Iceland's capital. Once a month the group climbs one of Iceland's higher peaks and during the program participants have climbed Snæfellsjölunn glacier, Botnssúlur, Skarðsheiði among other peaks in Iceland.

The mission of this program, led by 66°North, is to increase public awareness in global warming and the fact that all these glaciers will maybe not be around for long if people don't start thinking of the environment. The program was also aimed to get Icelandic people more involved in outdoor activities and enjoying the rough unspoiled Icelandic nature.

The first part of the two part finale of this program was on May 29^th  and the second one was on June 5^th. About 220 people reach the peak of Hvannadalshnúkur. The ascent started out in fog and rain but hikers didn't let that spoil their spirit and kept on walking. Half way up the group was above the clouds and walked all the way up in the beautiful sun and the view magnificent.

All the hikers  agreed that the program and the hike was a great success, many of them never thought that they would be able to climb Vatnajökull glacier and all of the hikers said that this was just the beginning of their outdoor activities.

Following video was taken on the trip, also there is a longer version on Youtube.

 

Few online magazines have reviewed tha climb and you can see them here:
Redding.com

Billingsgazette.com

also

Stadtlandflucht.de

GearJunkie.com

About 66°North

66°North Ltd. is among Iceland's oldest manufacturing companies. It was established in the year 1926 and has throughout the decades been a leading producer and innovator in the making of working clothes used on sea and land, made for the toughest outdoors working conditions on the planet. In the past decade, 66°North has leveraged its expertise into a wide selection of outdoor clothing for sports and leisure. It has received numerous awards for its designs and marketing campaigns.

The company's staff today numbers more than 300 people. It operates 9 shops in Iceland under the names of 66°North and Iceland Gift Store, as well as a shop in Latvia and two shops in Lithuania. Furthermore the 66°North brand is sold in retail stores in Europe and North America.

For further information about 66°North visit our international website, http://www.66north.com/.

About Icelandic Mountain Guides

Icelandic Mountain Guides (IMG) offers Iceland hiking tours, mountaineering, trekking, climbing and more.
 
IMG believe that no vacation in Iceland would be complete without an experience of its beautiful and unspoilt nature. IMG therefore offers a wide variety of hiking tours that will give the visitor a direct and powerful experience of Iceland's beautiful nature and landscapes.

IMG offers hiking tours from their corporate headquarters in Reykjavik year-round, and from their base camp located in the beautiful Skaftafell National Park, located in Southern Iceland at the foot of the Vatnajokull Glacier, from May - September.

For further information about Icelandic Mountain Guides visit the website, http://www.mountainguide.is/.

 

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