Albert Leichtfried, Benedikt Purner climb new ice in Iceland

In February the Austrians Albert Leichtfried and Benedikt Purner made their 8th ice climbing trip to to land of glaciers and geysers and, once again, they managed to climb new ice. On their arrival an unprecedented spell of warm weather caused much of the ice to melt but thanks to a cold snap 

the duo then found a new line on the island’s remote north coast at Ásbyrgi, the enormous canyon also referred to as Shelter of the gods.

According to local legend this extraordinary horse-shaped canyon was formed by the hoof of one of Odin’s horses… and it was on these magical walls that after two days of work Leichtfried and Purner established and freed Shelter of the Gods. The route offers two pitches with difficulties up to M10 and is protected with a mix of ice climbing gear, trad gear and bolts.

Leichtfried and Purner point out that without prior permission from the Vatnajökull park rangers it is prohibited to place bolts in the Ásbyrgi area.


Links: www.albertleichtfried.at, www.alpine-spirits.com, La Sportiva