One of the cheapest jokes that we Icelanders bombard foreign tourists with goes something like this: "In Iceland there's never any real weather, just samples of it.” Not particularly funny, though rather true. The weather here changes unbelievably quickly and in the mountains it can cause problems for travellers if they're not adequately prepared.
Most fatal accidents in Iceland involving hikers stem from them having overestimated their own abilities or underestimated Icelandic weather. Even during the summer, weather can rapidly change where the archenemies of hikers, wind and rain, creep up and unleash their fury.
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Taking that into consideration, you should pay particular attention to the follwing;
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Weather report before heading out for a hike.
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Be well prepared, and by that we mean bring along proper underwear and water and wind resistant clothing, not to mention gloves and caps.
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Find out about road conditions.
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Remember that if you get lost you should always remain calm and stay where you are. This can mean the difference between life and death.
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Check out the weather report: www.vedur.is and www.belgingur.is
