Rain and fog accompanied the hike on Hvannadalshnúkur at the start of the day. We roped up at the glacier, stepping over crevasses and up through clouds toward the sun at the crater. The whole day, through varying temps and weather conditions, I never changed my top layers.
I wore wool base layers and a jacket from 66 North (www.66north.com) called the Vatnajökull Softshell. The jacket, which was designed in Iceland, uses a new fabric called Polartec Power Shield Pro. It kept me dry from rain and snow, and it breathed adequately all day. Indeed, the Vatnajökull Softshell is one of the most breathable waterproof jackets I have used. It costs $330 and comes to market this fall.
On the climb, a long traverse crept over an immense plain of ice. Then the final hump of Hvannadalshnúkur rose like a pyramid from the snow. We kicked steps and followed a trail left by climbers ahead. Another half-hour and we’d be on top, ice axes raised in glory, the highest point on Iceland under our boots.
—Stephen Regenold is founder and editor of www.gearjunkie.com.
