Articles
Land Of Fire and Ice
The club’s Trip Secretary Ben Lewis talks about his experience volunteering in Iceland this summer
Why did you decide to visit Iceland?
“I’d read an article in the BMC’s ‘Summit’ magazine ages ago about walking in Iceland. I was instantly captured by the idea of walking among volcanoes, mountains and glaciers, in this constantly active landscape. It seemed like all of nature’s forces were colliding in the one country and I wanted to see this for myself.”
What type of volunteering were you involved with?
“I was working on a conservation project for the Icelandic Environment Agency in Thorsmork national park. We were repairing hiking trails on a popular trekking route, camping at a base just below the volcano that caused the ash cloud last year! It was an hour’s drive by 4x4 to the nearest main road and this involved several major river crossings, so it felt really remote. During the day we would be digging and cutting timber to make steps, in the evenings I would go running. It was beautiful.”
What was your motivation for the trip?
“Having done a fair bit of walking and climbing with the club, I knew how badly walkers or bikers can damage the landscape. I’m sure you’ve seen parts of the Peak District or the Lakes where the hillside has been completely eroded on a steep section. I thought I’d start giving something back by doing a bit of footpath work in Iceland. The work itself isn’t always easy but the end result is very rewarding.”
What are your most lasting memories of Iceland?
“I remember the slow sunset at around 11 o’clock every evening – it was absolutely stunning, and the hot geothermal pools and the great tasting food!”
How can other people get involved in similar conservation work?
“My trip was organised through BTCV or the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. They have local groups running conservation days all over the UK.”
August 2011
BTCV
http://www2.btcv.org.uk/
Leeds Uni Conservation Volunteers
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=2215558658
Fix the Fells
http://www.fixthefells.co.uk/
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