Fjallsjökull crevasse training

We spent the day out on Fjallsjökull glacier in South Iceland putting our crevasse rescue skills to the test. This wasn’t a classroom session—it was hands-on practice in real terrain, surrounded by jagged ice, deep fissures, and the constant creak and groan of a living glacier. Fjallsjökull, an outlet of the mighty Vatnajökull ice cap, is riddled with dramatic crevasses—perfect for refining rope systems, anchor placements, and pulley setups in a real-world setting.

Crevasses form as the glacier flows downhill and the surface ice fractures under stress. Some are open and obvious, but many are hidden beneath thin snow bridges, waiting for a misstep. Practicing rescues in this environment—hauling teammates from mock falls, managing rope systems under pressure, and navigating complex crevasse fields—brings a deeper respect for the risks and the terrain.

There’s no substitute for drilling techniques where they really matter. Everything is harder on the ice: your fingers are cold, snow fills your gear, and anchors must be perfect. But working through it, surrounded by towering seracs and the vast silence of the glacier, is unforgettable. It’s not just training—it’s real experience, earned in the heart of one of Iceland’s most awe-inspiring landscapes.