Icelandic Adventure 2013

Team Geography has just returned from the most “unforgettable” [Christian Edmonds], “spectacular” [David Bell], “awesome” [Will Mortimore], “once in a lifetime” [Arron Francis] trip to Iceland.

 

Thanks to our local guide Kari, superb weather when we were outdoors and a full itinerary, we saw so many of southern Iceland’s highlights in all their glory. Mother Nature was at her very finest as we witnessed the phenomenal Northern Lights dance their way across the jet black, remote Iceland sky.

Waterfalls at Gullfoss, Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss had their beauty enhanced by snow and ice, and yet the thundering water was a force to be in awe of, whether we viewed from above, below or behind the falls. Geysirs erupted every 5-7 minutes, Hekla threatened to show us a volcanic eruption and we rubbed noses with the snout of a glacier, which creaked, groaned and dripped as it slowly melted. At Jokulsarlon we were dazzled by the ice cold, blue water in which giant ice-bergs gently floated and seals teased us with peaks of their heads.

Down on the beach the ornately wind and water carved, 1300 year old ice-bergs were made even more dramatic by the black, volcanic beach which they were resting on.

Hundreds of photo opportunities were presented to us at this dramatic location and we took advantage of every one. More ice crunched beneath us as we put on crampons and picked up our ice axes in readiness for our walk on the Solheimajokull glacier, which was blackened by the ash of many a volcanic eruption.

Our trip ended where it had begun – in the Blue Lagoon, which has been voted the world’s best spa for a number of years. After the drama of the physical geography, and the calm bustle of our time in Reykjavik, the gentle soothing of the geothermal heat was a beautiful end to this truly spectacular trip.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the girls and staff of RMS for joining us on this trip; Mr Amor and Mr Albon for all their hard work and support during our time in Iceland, and to the 28 boys whose enthusiasm, interest and fabulous company contributed to this amazing experience we all shared. They were a tremendous credit to QEH and I am proud of them all.

The next stop for Team Geography will be in magical Morocco in December 2014. More details will follow shortly.

Michelle Dimes

This was a joint trip with the Red Maids' School and took place 23rd - 29th March 2013.