1Hiking in Iceland: A Land of Extreme Contrasts

Hiking in Iceland A Land of Extreme Contrasts

July 20th - July 28th, 2018 Trip 1832

2 AMC Adventure Travel

Iceland has been referred to as the “Land of Ice and Fire” with good reason. The stunning landscape features glaciers alongside volcanoes, roaring waterfalls near bubbling hot springs.

There is an old joke that if one gets lost in an Icelandic forest, you just need to stand up. While trees are becoming more com-mon thanks to reforestation efforts, the vast interior of the island has little to no vegetation of any size. Small grasses, flowers and abundant moss are most common, especially on the sub-arctic tundra. The landscape is often stark but always mesmerizing; truly a land of contrasts.

Iceland is known for it’s incredible diversity of bird species that includes everything from arctic terns to puffins. Native arctic fox may be seen, as well as imported reindeer. Icelandic horses are famous in the equestrian world for their even temperament and unique gait.

The island was originally settled by the Norse and Celtic sailors around 860AD and was ruled by Norway until the middle of the 17th century when the King of Denmark claimed the island. Iceland became an independent country in the wake of the Second World War.

The vast majority of the island is uninhabited and considered uninhabitable. Over 10 percent of the island is permanently glaciated. The population of Iceland hovers around 320,000, with nearly two-thirds living in the greater Reykjavik area while the

ContentsAbout Iceland............................2

Trip Itinerary...............................4

Trip Logistics.............................6

The Fine Print.............................7

Packing List...............................8

Trip Leadership.........................11

Cover: Along the Laugavegur © Elizabeth Ryan, 2016

Above: Along the Laugavegur © Reji James, 2016

About Iceland

3Hiking in Iceland: A Land of Extreme Contrasts

rest live in isolated villages along the coast. The Icelandic people are heavily invested in renewable energy, for a number of rea-sons, and evidence of geothermal energy production is scattered around the island.

The Icelandic language is strongly influenced by the country’s Northern European connections. Fortunately for tourists from the United States, most Icelanders speak fluent English in addition to a few other languages.

WeatherJuly into August is peak season in Iceland with the best weather expected. Even with nearly 24 hours of daylight and blue skies, however, the temperatures will barely reach 70°F – the perfect temperature for long days on the trail. The conditions can change quickly though, with fog, rain and wind rolling in suddenly. Hikers in Iceland need to be prepared for anything from strong sunlight (at all hours of the day) to autumn-like wind and rain. In the higher passes we can expect snow and lower temperatures. Reykjavik is right on the coast and remains milder than Fjallabak Reserve in the interior.

South-western Iceland, including Reykjavik and Fjallabak

Additional Information

Icelandic Touring Association – description of the Laugavegur Track http://www.fi.is/en/hiking-trails/lau-gavegurinn/

A stunning aerial view of Iceland, including Fjallabak: http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/385319/soaring-over-iceland/

City of Reykjavik tourism site: http://www.visitreykjavik.is/

About Mt. Esja: http://www.visitreykjavik.is/mount-esja

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The TripIceland is a country, where fire and ice, mountains and valleys, dark winters and summer midnight sun, all co-exist. Experience hiking in this country by hiking the Laugavegur and Skógar hiking trails (about 55 km), which connects the nature reserves Fjallabak and Þórsmörk. The Laugavegur is the most well known track in Iceland and attracts trekkers from around the world.

The track takes us from Þórsmörk, at the foot of the now famous volcano Eyjafjallajökull, northwards valleys, fells and obsidian fields to the geothermal valley of Landmannalaugar. The trail crosses one of the largest geothermal zones in the world, through yellow rhyolite mountains, across deserts of volcanic rock to reach the forested valley at the southern end of the track.

This trip is very physical and will involve several days of hiking over rough terrain. Some sections of the trail are steep and there are several small rivers that we must ford. You should have at least intermediate to advanced backpacking skills. For more specific information about the kind of experience we are looking for, please read the Experience and Risks section below. This trip is geared towards the outdoors adventurer and the accommo-dations reflect this. We will be staying in backpacker hostels and backcountry huts, which allow us to keep the trip affordable yet comfortable.

Trip Itinerary

Above: Along the Laugavegur © Reji James, 2016

5Hiking in Iceland: A Land of Extreme Contrasts

Right: Hallgrimskirkja in central Reykjavik @ Elizabeth Ryan, 2015

Detailed ItineraryBelow is a day to day break-down of our intended itinerary. Conditions may require us to alter these plans.

Day 1 – Friday, July 20

Depart the United States for Iceland. The flight will go over-night and land in Keflavik early Saturday morning. No meals included.

Day 2 – Saturday, July 21Arrive at Keflavik International Airport and transfer by bus to Reykjavik. Check into the backpacker’s hostel and take some time to rest. Afternoon walking tours of the city are optional. Group dinner in the evening to formally start our trip. Included meals: Dinner.

Day 3 – Sunday, July 22We will stretch our legs on with a hike on Mt. Esja overlooking Reykjavik. This is a popular hike with locals and visitors alike. 6.5 miles with 2625ft elevation gain. There are some steep scrambles at the top to get your legs pumping. You have the remainder of the day to explore the city on your own. We will rendezvous for dinner in the evening. Included meals: Breakfast and Dinner.

Day 4 – Monday, July 23We will check out of the hostel in the morning and take a bus to Þórsmörk to being our trek. At Þórsmörk we will head north along the Laugavegur Track, hiking north to Botnar hut where will spend the night for a total of 9.5 miles. We will gain 1970ft and lose 1150ft for a fair amount of elevation change with some steep and rugged slopes. Included meals: Breakfast and Dinner.

Day 5 – Tuesday, July 24We will continue the Track, hiking another 10 miles across open fells with a few river crossings to our next overnight at Álftavatn hut. The terrain is more moderate with 885 ft of elevation gain. Included meals: Breakfast and Dinner.

Day 6 – Wednesday, July 25Our third day on the track will take us a total of 15 miles to Landmannalauger. This will be a long, but rewarding day as we hike over the high pass at Hrafntinnusker and down open slopes to the Landman-nalauger valley. On this day we will see spectacular volcanic landscapes along the trail. 2230 ft up and 2165 ft down will bring us to our overnight in Landmannalauger. Included meals: Breakfast and Dinner.

Day 7 – Thursday, July 26To complete the trek, we will hike 10 miles north to Land-mannahellier, gradually reach-ing greener country. 1770ft gain, 1805 ft loss. At the end of the track, a bus will take us to our hotel in Hella. Included meals: Breakfast and Dinner.

Day 8 – Friday, July 27On our last full day in Iceland we will catch a bus back to Reykjavik for a boat tour of the harbor and nearby puffin rookery! We will rendezvous for a final dinner together in the evening. Included meals: Breakfast and Dinner.

Day 9 – Saturday, July 28Check out of the hostel and transfer by bus to Keflavik airport for your flight back to the States. Included meals: Breakfast.

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Trip Logistics

Accommodations The accommodations provided on this trip will be a combination of backpacker hostels and backcountry huts. In the hostels, rooms will be shared by four or more people. The huts feature open bunk rooms with attached cooking facilities. There is run-ning water at each hut. Some of the huts will have larger sleeping platforms that are shared by several people. No accommodations will be finalized until the exact group number is determined.

MealsIcelandic food is an exciting combination of modern European tastes, international influences and traditional sensibilities. While in Reykjavik, we will enjoy a sampling of contemporary Icelandic cuisine and continental staples.

While on the track, the group will share in the responsibility of carrying and preparing meals as a team. Food will be lightweight, simple and hearty. The huts are equipped with cooking facilities and some cookware. We will not stop to cook lunch, so sand-wiches and other prepared foods will be more suitable while hiking. A detailed breakdown of included meals is provided in the day-to-day itinerary.

Mt. Esja and Reykjavik Harbor © Elizabeth Ryan, 2015

7Hiking in Iceland: A Land of Extreme Contrasts

Trip Cost

The approximate cost for the trip is $2,490. This will cover the following items:

• Airport transfer

• Accommodations in Reykjavik

• Reykjavik walking tour

• Hut permits on the trail

• All local transportation to and from the trailheads

• Harbor boat tour

• Luggage storage in Reykjavik

• Most breakfasts and dinners (see detailed itinerary for breakdown)

• AMC major excursion fee

All other meals, including lunches and snacks for the trek, some meals in towns (off the trail), and other personal expens-es are not included. You should estimate about US$200 for additional meals.

The trip cost does not include airfare. It is approximately $650 to $850 round trip Boston to Reykjavik. The leaders will be able to assist with these arrangements.

If you have any questions, please contact the leaders

Details of the Trip Cost The approximate cost for the excursion (published and stated here) is based on quotes at the time the trip was submitted to the Adventure Travel Committee in June 2017. The final cost of the trip will be adjusted in accordance with the best final arrange-ments we can make. Any savings we achieve, as well as any cost increases, will be passed back to you. Our cost estimates are conservative, and so a refund is considerably more likely than a price increase.

Please be aware that, in accordance with AMC policy, you are subsidizing the leaders’ costs. Beyond this, the leaders are not allowed to realize any profit from this excursion. The trip price also includes an AMC overhead fee to cover the administrative expenses of offering Adventure Travel trips, including the trip’s publication in AMC Outdoors for several months. The overhead charge amounts to 10-12% of participant land costs; neither air travel nor leader costs are included in calculating the overhead charge. The trip fee includes emergency medical and evacuation insurance coverage, which is required by the AMC. It does not include insurance for travel delay or interruption, or for baggage loss.

Any unspent funds resulting from negotiating better rates for airfare, lodging, local transportation, etc. will be refunded to the participants. If the trip’s financial position is strong enough at the start, the leaders may make partial refunds during the trip, in the form of payments toward some meals and/or free time activities, which will otherwise not be included.

Álftavatn hut © Reji James, 2016

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Registration, and Cancellation PolicyTo apply, please contact the leaders for the required forms. You must complete and submit the Application, Confidential Medical forms, and Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risk and Release forms, and a registration deposit of $1,200. You will not actually be accepted, and your check will not be deposited, until the leaders have determined by telephone conversation with you that you and the trip seem to be a good match. The rest of the trip fee will be due March 1st, 2018. Please make payments by check payable to the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Trip cancellations prior to 5/22/18 will be entitled to a refund on money deposited with the AMC less a minimum administration charge of $100.00. Cancellations after 5/22/18 will be subject to a $250.00 minimum charge, and refunds will only be made in an amount that does not impact the cost of the trip for other participants. If a participant’s spot can be filled and/or on trip costs can be avoided the leaders will refund as much as possible to a canceling participant without impacting the “normal” result-ing refund to participants. Please note, most airlines no longer give refunds for cancellations; instead, they issue coupons for

The trail from Þórsmörk © Reji James, 2016

9Hiking in Iceland: A Land of Extreme Contrasts

Equipment ListBelow is a list of the required gear for the trip. The items with asterisks (*) will be shared, so if you do not have this equipment, you will be able to share with others.

Required and Essential Gear• Backpack (at least 4500-5500 cubic inches)• Waterproof pack liner• 15-20 degree sleeping bag• Broken-in hiking boots• Waterproof wind and rain gear (tops and

bottoms)• Non-cotton hiking clothing, tops and

bottoms• Warm, non-cotton jacket (down, synthetic

pile or fleece)• Hat, and gloves or mittens• Long pants• 2-3 pairs of hiking socks• Nalgene bottles/Camelback (2 liters total

capacity) • Mess kit (fork, spoon, cup, bowl)• Stuff sacks for food storage• Sunglasses • Hat or bandanna• Sunscreen and insect repellent• Personal first aid kit (leaders will have

group first aid kits)• Trail lunches and high-energy trail snacks

(can be bought in Iceland)• Headlamp and spare batteries

Recommended and Optional Gear• Gaiters (for rain)• Hiking poles• Pack cover• Waterproof matches, whistle, and knife• Bath towel• Casual clothing• Camera• Eye mask for sleeping (there will be 20+

hours of daylight in July) • Ear plugs• Crocs or other water shoe for crossings

Puffin at Látrabjarg, Iceland © Richard Bartz, 2013

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a future trip with a fee and an expiration date. Trip cancellation insurance is recommended and policy information is supplied to all participants.

This trip is likely to fill quickly. If you are interested, you should register as soon as possible. When registration is complete, we will send all participants the names, addresses, and phone num-bers of all those going on the trip. We are good communicators and will try very hard to keep everyone well informed. We will be using email as our primary source of communication.

If you have any questions, please call one of the leaders so that we can discuss them.

Experience And RisksLugging a heavy pack over steep mountain passes is physically very demanding and requires that we pace ourselves and pay attention to proper nutrition and hydration. People wishing to participate in this trip must have previous backpacking experience, at the intermediate level or higher. Although the hiking will be at a moderate pace, this is not a trip for beginners or people who have not backpacked for several years. Several of

Wading through the crossing of Bláfjallakvísl © Reji James, 2016

11Hiking in Iceland: A Land of Extreme Contrasts

the days are long (10+ miles) and strenuous. There are small river crossings that require fording. You should be in excellent physical condition at the time we depart.

When you participate in this activity, you should be prepared both physically and mentally, and equipped with the appropriate gear. You should always be aware of the risks involved and conduct yourself accordingly. We are not responsible for your safety; you are. Prior to your being accepted as a participant in this trip, you will be asked to discuss your capabilities and experience with us. Please do not be offended by our questions.

Iceland is a very safe country. There are no predators, such as bears or poisonous snakes. The weather is perhaps the most dangerous thing we may encounter. The weather in Iceland is very changeable and we can expect wind and passing showers most days. We will not proceed in any activity if the guide or hut wardens prohibit it, and unless everyone is comfortable.

Trip LeadershipReji James (Leader)Reji James is an Adventure travel leader, as well as a four-season leader with the AMC Hiking/Backpacking Committee. He has been leading AMC trips since 2001. In the past he has led Major Excursions to Iceland, Alaska, Glacier National Park and Patago-nia. He is an avid runner, hiker and photographer. He has traveled to New Zealand, Kilimanjaro, climbed the glaciated peaks of the North West, Patagonia, Julian and Swiss Alps and the Italian Do-lomites. He lives in the Seattle area with his wife and two young boys (8 and 4). Contact at james.reji@gmail.com

Elizabeth Ryan (Co-Leader)Elizabeth Ryan is a four-season hiking and backpacking leader with the AMC’s Boston Chapter. She has been leading AMC trips since 2013. In the past, she has led Adventure Travel excursions to Iceland and Newfoundland. In addition to hiking, she enjoys trail running. She has traveled to Ireland and Scotland, climbed in the Northwest Cascades and hiked throughout New England. She lives in the Boston area. Contact at ryan.ej03@gmail.com