Glaciologist warns summer ice cave tours in Iceland akin to playing Russian roulette

A glaciologist has drawn a troubling comparison between summer ice cave tours and Russian roulette, suggesting these excursions pose significant dangers. This warning extends not only to Breiðamerkurjökull but also to Kötlujökull, where tours are still being offered despite the risks.

Following a tragic accident last week in an ice cave on Breiðamerkurjökull that resulted in the death of an American tourist and injuries to his pregnant fiancée, the Vatnajökuls National Park has recommended the suspension of organized ice cave tours within the park for the time being. The couple was part of a tour organized by Ice Pic Journeys, and out of the 23 tourists in the cave at the time of the collapse, many were under the guidance of another company, Arctic Adventures. Additionally, the company Niflheimar had operated a group in the cave just before the incident.

Helgi Björnsson, an emeritus professor of glaciology, expressed his astonishment at the continuation of organized summer tours into ice caves, stating that there has always been common sense against such activities. He emphasized that entering ice caves during the summer is perilous across all sites in the area.

As the winter season approaches, anticipated in October, the threat of glacier melt, which can lead to dangerous collapses, increases, yet some companies continue to market tours on Kötlujökull. Helgi warned that this represents a “massive risk” akin to playing Russian roulette, highlighting the unpredictability and danger involved.