Got caught in a flash flood on a hike in the Faroe Islands

I was on the trail to the Kallur lighthouse on Kalsoy, which is a pretty quiet spot. The weather turned fast, and a small stream we crossed on the way up became a raging river on the way back. My partner and I were stuck on the wrong side, with the light fading. We ended up having to climb about 50 meters up the steep, soggy hillside to find a narrower spot to jump across, getting completely soaked and muddy. It added two extra hours to the hike in near dark. The lesson was that in those islands, a 'small stream' on the map is just a suggestion. Has anyone else had a trail in a remote place turn dangerous because of sudden weather?

4 comments

4 Comments

hugotaylor1mo ago

Man, that's why I always check the rain upstream before crossing.

grant3471mo ago

People forget to check upstream in their own lives too.

evan54321d ago

Wait, THREE hours? That is a seriously long time to be stuck. I would have lost my mind just sitting there watching the water come up. Glad you made it out okay.

the_iris1mo ago

Ever had a creek swell so fast you could actually watch it rise? I got pinned by one in the Rockies for like three hours once.