Balked by the Marines, the German mountain troops could either press forward or surrender; packing up and heading home wasn't much of an option. Given those choices, the regiment pressed forward. The Marines found it impossible to dig in, given the hard and rocky ground, but prepared themselves as best they could.

The Germans used their cross-country abilities to outflank the Marine positions and force them back from the pass before they lost their pack artillery. But while the Marines had been pushed back, most of their brigade had not yet been engaged and the road to Reykjavik was not yet open.