Step into a landscape shaped by volcanic fury and glacial calm as we follow the journey of two hikers across Iceland’s legendary Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails. In this presentation, you’ll experience the awe of rhyolite mountains, black sand deserts, geothermal vents, and moss-draped valleys all through the lens of a self-supported thru-hike. From the logistics of backcountry camping in unpredictable Icelandic weather to the raw emotion of crossing rivers fed by melting glaciers, this talk weaves practical guidance with personal reflection. You’ll learn how to prepare for a hike across of Europe’s premier trekking routes, navigate changing trail conditions, manage nutrition and gear in remote areas, and stay safe in a place where the weather changes faster than the trail bends. Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker, an armchair traveler, or someone planning their first Icelandic adventure, this presentation will leave you excited, informed, and ready to lace up your boots.
Bio
Zach is a long-distance backpacker and seasoned amateur adventurer whose focus is on self-supported, ultralight hiking. He has logged hundreds of wilderness miles across a wide range of environments, including areas such as the alpine basins of the Cascades, the arid canyons of the American southwest, the rhyolite mountains of Iceland, and the Appalachian wilderness of the United States. With a deep knowledge of gear systems, route planning, sustainability, and risk management, Zach offers field-proven insights to help others confidently plan and execute long-distance hikes. His trail stories and hard-earned tips focus on empowering others to find joy in the wilderness without carrying too much of it on their back. When not hiking, Zach works as a clinical infectious diseases specialist and doctor of pharmacy professor. He holds a certification as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and serves as an instructor in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS), Stop the Bleed, and Wilderness First Aid (WFA).