How to Move Safely: The Blue Ice Walk Technique

How Crampons Attach to Your Hiking Boots

Your guide will fit your crampons before you step onto the glacier. Crampons are metal frameworks with spikes that strap directly over your hiking boots, gripping the ice beneath you. The attachment takes about two minutes per boot. Your guide checks that the toe and heel cups sit snugly around your boot, then tightens the straps across the top of your foot and around the back of your heel. The fit must be secure so the crampons do not shift or rotate as you walk. Loose crampons are dangerous and uncomfortable; tell your guide immediately if yours feel loose after the first few minutes on the ice.

Make sure you wear sturdy hiking boots with ankle support, not trainers or soft shoes. The crampons need a rigid sole to work properly. Your guide will inspect your footwear before you leave Skaftafell and will advise you if your boots are unsuitable. Once fitted, walk carefully on flat ground to feel how the spikes change your gait. The metal points extend below the sole by about 2 centimetres and will catch on rock or equipment if you are not aware of them. This is why deliberate, controlled movement matters from the moment you stand up.

The Wide Stance and Flat-Foot Walking Technique

Walking on glacier ice is entirely different from walking on snow or rock. Your instinct will be to lean forward and take small steps, but on ice you must do the opposite. Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, pointing slightly outward like a penguin. This wide base distributes your weight evenly and stops you tipping sideways if one foot slips. Keep your knees slightly bent at all times. Your guide will demonstrate this stance on flat ice before you move to any slope. Practice walking 20 or 30 metres in a straight line on level ground. Feel how each crampon point digs into the ice as you step. The spikes work only if you place your foot flat and let all the points make contact with the ice at once.

Do not try to walk normally or take long strides. Short, deliberate steps with a flat foot keep the spikes engaged. If you lift your heel or walk on your toes, the points lose grip and you risk slipping. Your guide will watch your technique and correct you if you revert to normal walking. On Falljökull Glacier, where the tour takes place, you will walk across slopes that angle downward. The flat-foot method works on gentle slopes, but steeper sections require the ice axe and rope to manage safely. Your guide will tell you when to switch technique and will not move you up steeper slopes until your flat-foot walking is confident and stable.

Crampon spikes grip deep into blue ice for secure footing

Using Your Walking Ice Axe on Glacial Slopes

The ice axe you are given is a walking axe, not a climbing tool. It is about 60 to 70 centimetres long with a pick on one end and an adze (flat blade) on the other. You hold it in one hand while walking on gentle slopes, and use it to push yourself upward or to steady yourself if you feel unbalanced. The pick digs into the ice slightly as you ascend, adding friction and confidence. On the descent, you use the adze or spike to brace yourself and slow your pace. Your guide will show you how to grip the axe shaft and how far down to hold it. Too far up and it becomes a short stick; too far down and you lose leverage.

On moderate slopes, plant the axe into the ice in front of you and lean slightly against it as you step upward. The axe is not a crutch; it adds security, not support. If you slip, the axe helps you arrest your fall by planting it firmly and holding on. Your guide will practice this self-arrest technique with you on a small slope before you venture onto steeper terrain. On the way down, drag the adze lightly through the ice beside you to slow yourself. If the slope is very steep or exposed, your guide clips you to the rope and harness system instead of relying on the axe alone. The axe is your personal tool for control; the rope is your safety backup.

When Your Guide Uses the Harness and Rope System

Before you arrive at the blue ice cave, your guide assesses the route and slope angles. On gentler sections, you walk independently with crampons and your axe. When the slope becomes steeper than about 30 degrees, or where crevasses or ice cliffs are present, your guide clips your harness to a safety rope. The harness wraps around your waist and thighs. Your guide connects you to the rope with a carabiner, keeping the line taut as you move together. The rope is not meant to pull you upward; it catches you if you lose your footing and prevents a long slide down the ice.

Your group of up to 12 people may be split into smaller rope teams with separate guides. Each rope team moves together, with the guide setting pace and route. If you slip while roped in, the guide braces himself and arrests your fall. Tell your guide immediately if the harness feels uncomfortable or if any strap pinches your skin. Harnesses are adjustable, and your guide will make quick fixes. You will wear the harness continuously once you are roped in, even on level sections, because conditions can change or hidden crevasses may appear. Your safety depends on the rope staying attached and your focus remaining on your footing.

Helmet Safety Inside the Blue Ice Cave

Yes, you must wear a helmet inside the ice cave. The cave is a natural formation carved by glacial meltwater, and the roof and walls are solid ice thousands of years old. However, the ice is not stable like rock. Sections can break loose, and chunks of ice can fall without warning, especially if the cave is warming. Your helmet protects your head from debris and falling ice. Your guide will ensure your helmet is fastened properly before you enter. The chin strap must be tight enough that the helmet does not shift if you bump your head or move quickly.

The cave interior is dim and narrow in places. Your guide will give you a torch or headlamp along with your helmet. The combination of helmet and light allows you to see your footing and overhead hazards. Stay close to your guide at all times inside the cave. Do not touch the ceiling or walls unless your guide asks you to. The ice can be delicate, and your touch may destabilize loose sections. The cave is not a long passage; you will spend perhaps 15 to 20 minutes inside before returning to the open glacier. Your guide will brief you before entry on where to step and how to move safely.

Eye Protection on Bright Glacier Ice

Glacier sunglasses or goggles are not required by the tour operator, but they are strongly recommended and many people bring their own. Vatnajökull's ice surface reflects intense sunlight, especially on clear days. Even on overcast days, the glare bounces off white ice and can cause eye strain or snow blindness (a temporary but painful condition caused by UV reflection). Your guide will advise you about the day's weather and light conditions. If you do not have your own sunglasses, ask your guide; some guides carry spares. Goggles that wrap around the sides of your head offer better protection than standard sunglasses because they block reflected light from the sides.

If you wear regular glasses or contact lenses, make sure any sunglasses you bring fit comfortably over them or ask about lens inserts. Losing a glasses frame or lens on the glacier is inconvenient and potentially dangerous, so ensure everything is secure. Polarized lenses reduce glare more effectively than standard UV sunglasses. Your guide can see the ice surface conditions better if you are not squinting or distracted by brightness, and you will enjoy the experience more if you can see the cave entrance clearly and observe the blue ice formations without discomfort.

Avoiding Tripping on Your Own Crampon Spikes

Tripping on your own spikes is a common beginner mistake. Your crampons have forward-pointing spikes that extend about 2 centimetres from the toe of each boot. If you take too long a stride or swing your leg in front of the other, the spikes will catch. Beginners often catch the front points on their trouser legs or on the opposite boot. The solution is simple: take shorter steps, lift your knees slightly less than you would on normal ground, and keep your feet directly below your body rather than in front of it. This is why the flat-foot wide stance works; it keeps your feet closer together and under you.

If you do catch a spike, you will feel a sharp tug on your pant leg or boot. Stop immediately and carefully free yourself. Most catches are minor and easy to untangle. Your guide will show you how to gently work the spike free without ripping your clothing or falling over. Wear gaiters or sturdy trousers that fit snugly around your ankles to reduce the area that can catch. Many people on glacier tours wear thick socks and trousers tucked into boot cuffs or secured with gaiters for this reason. After a few minutes on the ice, your body adapts to the new gait and catches become rare. Focus on your footwork during the first 10 to 15 minutes, and then the technique becomes automatic.

Before you book

Strap In

1. Attach crampons to your boots

   Your guide fits the crampon frame over your sole and heel, securing straps snugly. Wiggle your foot to confirm they won't shift during walking.

2. Take your first steps on flat ground

   Walk slowly on level terrain to feel how the spikes grip. Keep your feet slightly apart and move deliberately until the motion feels natural.

3. Ascend using the axe as a lever

   Drive the pick into the slope above you. Push upward with your legs while pulling on the axe shaft. The rope connects you to your guide for safety.

4. Descend by facing the slope

   Lean forward slightly, pressing your crampons into the ice. Plant the axe below you and control your descent with steady, deliberate footsteps.

5. Use the axe as your third point of contact

   On steep sections, keep two feet and the axe planted at all times. This tripod stance distributes your weight and prevents slips on icy surfaces.

6. Avoid catching spikes on fabric

   Lift your feet clear and place them deliberately to prevent crampons snagging pants or gaiters. The guide demonstrates this technique before you reach the ice.