Training for Hvannadalshnúkur
This 4-month course introduces beginners to the fundamentals of high-mountain travel while progressively building the endurance and elevation-gain capacity required for long alpine days. You’ll learn about essential clothing systems, mountain weather patterns, safe movement in alpine terrain, and how to prepare your body for sustained effort at altitude. Structured workouts and guided outings help you develop strength, stamina, and confidence for future high-mountain adventures.
A 4-month beginner-friendly training program designed to build endurance, elevation fitness, and solid foundational knowledge on clothing, weather, and alpine environments. Approach the ascent the highest peak of Iceland, with 5 group training, 7 autonomous sessions and 3 peaks (Akrafjall, Snæfellsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull) before the ascent of Hvannadlashnúkur. .
This comprehensive 4-month training course is designed for beginners who dream of climbing the highest mountain Iceland but need a structured, supportive pathway to get there. The program combines hands-on education with immersive physical preparation, covering essential topics such as clothing and layering systems, navigation of alpine environments, weather interpretation, and risk awareness. Alongside theoretical learning, you’ll follow a progressive training plan focused on endurance, elevation gain, and the physical resilience required for long days in the mountains.
Each week includes tailored workouts, guided hikes, and elevation-focused training sessions that gradually increase in difficulty. You’ll learn how to move efficiently on varied terrain, manage your energy, and adapt to altitude exposure through smart progression. In addition, instructors will teach you how to choose the right equipment, read weather models, and understand environmental dynamics that influence safety and decision-making in the high mountains.
By the end of the 4 months, you’ll have developed strong cardiovascular endurance, improved strength for long climbs, and a deep understanding of how to prepare for and move within high-mountain environments. Whether your goal is a first alpine summit, trekking at altitude, or building a long-term mountain foundation, this course provides the technical and physical building blocks you need to succeed.
During the Groups Workout we will talk about main topics as:
- weather
- clothes
- alimentation
- crevasse rescue on snow cover terrain (Snæfellsjokull)
Instructor: Matteo Meucci
The course can be pay monthly with no extra cost (4X 38750 ISK)
Starting in February and ending in May the course has the following structure:
group workout (GW) and autonomous workout (AW)
February: 1/2 2h long (GW) 8/2 3h long (AW), 15/2 3h long Heiðmork (GW), 22/2 3h long (AW)
March: 1/3 Úlfarsfell (GW), 8/3 (AW), 15/3 Helgafell (GW), 22/3 (AW)
April: 4/4 Esja (AW), 12/4 Akranesfjall, 19/4 Snæfellsjökull, 26/4 2xEsja (AW)
May: 3/5 Eyjafjallajökull, 10/4 3xEsja, 17/4 Hvannadalshnúkur
