Courtesy photo Brothers Ryan and Aaron Deiter recently trekked over 50 miles on Iceland’s famous Laugavegur Trail. The Iceland hike has been a bucket list destination hike since the brothers completed the Inca Trail hike in Peru with younger brother Brett, in 2016.

ESCANABA — Brothers Ryan and Aaron Deiter recently trekked over 50 miles on Iceland’s famous Laugavegur Trail. Considered a destination hike, the multi-day guided-hike began in Landmannalaugar, a popular hiking and backpacking region located in the Highlands of Iceland. Known for exotic, almost supernatural scenery, the Laugavegur Trail features some of Iceland’s most dramatic sights which include, the remote oasis Alftavatn, glacier views, and Mount Brennisteinsalda or “Rainbow Mountain.” The brothers concluded the trek with an additional portion of the Fimmvoruhals Trail. The two trails combined for a remote destination hiking adventure with over 50-plus miles of breathtaking other-worldly Icelandic landscapes.

The hike itinerary included travel from Reykjavik, along with each of the five-overnight accommodations and meals. Some of the locations explored were trails and river crossings, the rugged landscapes of Emstrur-Botnar, remote waterfalls, glacier crossings and Upper Michigan like weather with wind, rain and borderline snow during one portion of the trail. Each day featured a 5-to-15-mile hike across moon like terrain, around the base of volcanos and alongside crystal-clear glacier fed rivers.

“Unbelievable, isn’t the right word to describe the sights here,” said Ryan. Their last night of the guided tour concluded with a traditional Icelandic meal prepared by the guides. The six-day, five-night hike ended with return travel to Reykjavik and a final day for the brothers to explore Iceland’s largest city before returning back home.

Originally planned in 2020, the Laugavegur Trail hike was put on hold due to travel restrictions and health concerns. The Iceland hike has been a bucket list destination hike since the brothers completed the Inca Trail hike in Peru with younger brother Brett, in 2016. The three brothers have also hiked the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim. Locally in Upper Michigan they have hiked, as a family, Isle Royale and multiple Pictured Rocks treks. Their most recent Pictured Rocks hiking adventure, in 2022, was completed with all four brothers as youngest brother Abe and father Rodney joined on the hiking adventure.

This year also marked a first for Aaron as he completed the Hike 100 Challenge by hiking over 100 miles on the North Country Trail in the same calendar year. Winding its way through multiple states, the North Country Trail system crosses some of Upper Michigan’s top hiking and back country camping destinations.

“I did my pre-Iceland waterfall hike training at the beautiful Tahquamenon Falls State Park here in the U.P.,” he said.

During the spring and fall months he spent time hiking and back country camping with friends and family in the Porcupine Mountains, Pictured Rocks and the Tahquamenon Falls areas. All three Upper Michigan “highlight” hiking locations overlap with the North Country Trail system, which made the 100 trail miles needed to complete the Hike 100 Challenge very scenic and doable.

Asked about his favorite part of the Laugavegur Trail, Aaron summarized. “It’s a special place. Very primal, I think my favorite part on the trail was how humble the environment made me think and feel, there was a certain mystique or raw energy about… To see and experience an alien world in the landscapes of Iceland up-close, made me appreciate the recreational experiences and natural beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula even more.”