Listen to Dermot Cosgrove talking about his time serving in the Foreign Legion. His adventures in Iceland and Greenland and the charity Irish Dogs for the disabled he supports passionately. In July 2019 Dermot attempted to solo cross Iceland unsupported but was forced to abandon the attempt due to severe injury to his feet sustained pulling all his supplies on a wheeled cart. Dermot Cosgrove isn’t the sort of guy to quit and he will be setting out again in June of 2021 to make a sewcond attempt on this arduous crossing.
The 600km crossing of Iceland from the town of Raufarhofn on the North East coast to Vik on the South coast will make use of the Icelandic “F” Road network for four-wheel drive vehicles and off road trails. These will take him across the Ódáðahraun volcanic sand desert of the Highland and finishing with Laugavegur / Fimmvörðuháls trails. F-roads are the routes that cross the highlands of Iceland. They are mountain roads that are affected by seasonal changes and closures depending on the weather conditions. The roads are unpaved tracks and many aren’t maintained and frequently crossing rivers.
Although there are several locations where food can be bought along the planned route Dermot´s plan is to transport all the necessary equipment and supplies for the trek himself making use of a Benpacker Hiking Cart The major challenges of the trek will be the lack of water during the crossing of the Highlands as well as several river crossings.
Circle trail Greenland 
Greenland 
Arctic Trail Greenland
Dermot became involved with Irish Dogs for the Disabled, having already made up his mind to solo hike the Arctic Circle Trail he decided to combine it with fundraising for a good cause. His sister has had a long term involvement with the charity so being familiar with their work made it a no brainer as to who he was going to help.
Irish Dogs for the Disabled provides specially trained assistance and stability dogs to people, most of which are children, with disabilities. The charity receives no government assistance and provides the dogs 100% free of charge; they are completely reliant on donations and good will which makes fundraising initiatives so important to them being able to carry out their work.
Dermot’s solo hike became known as Walk for the Dogs and it successfully raised almost 11,000 euros for the charity who chose to honour him by naming a dog, “Kossie”, after him. After completing the Arctic Circle Trail he decided he would continue thru hiking and combine it with raising funds for Dogs for the Disabled.
Iceland – North East Coastal Road outside of Kopasker 
Iceland 
Iceland 
Iceland – North East Coastal Road
