Kerlingafoss WI 3

Kerlingafoss is located in Hestadalsá, which is the first obstacle when climbers head into Villingadalur. In contrast to Villingadalur, the approach here is short and convenient. It takes no more than five minutes. The car is parked on a track that turns off Road 520 (see overview map). For an exceptionally cozy climb, the waterfall can be approached from above to set up an anchor and then abseil down to spend the day in a comfortable top-rope setup.

About the route

The waterfall offers easy but enjoyable climbing. The hardest lines might reach WI3+, but most routes are WI3. When climbed from the bottom all the way to the top, it is 22 meters. If the idea is to practice and have fun, it is better to set the top anchor slightly lower, yielding about 18 meters of climbing. It is recommended to climb up the waterfall when finishing for the day, as this avoids having to hike out of the canyon. This was done during the first ascent (see video) and was well-received. In that case, the walk back to the car was just over two minutes.

The story behind the route

Kerlingafoss has remained hidden from most. When heading into Villingadalur, one crosses Hestadalsá above the waterfall, and it is therefore not visible. Likewise, it cannot be seen from the road while driving. It was by accident that Halldór Fannar came across it at the end of last winter while scouting conditions in Villingadalur and exploring offroad tracks. At that time, the waterfall was not frozen at all, but a photo was taken to put it on the list of potential projects. It was then at the beginning of the year that it was decided to check out this waterfall, as the temps had been good and, in the worst-case scenario, they could walk into Villingadalur if Kerlingafoss was not in condition. The result was a great day where all the time was spent climbing and only a few minutes walking. There is good shelter there and a wonderful “crag” atmosphere. The only thing to watch out for is that the waterfall falls into a fairly deep pool, so it is best to stay where the ice is thickest.

FA (First Ascent): Unknown but the waterfall had been climbed prior, but never registered.