ICELAND 2012: A BREVARD COLLEGE EXPERIENTIAL GEOLOGICAL FIELD TRIP FOR NON-MAJORS

Seven students and three faculty participated on the 23-day 2012 Brevard College experiential geological field trip to Iceland. Because of the small group, two SUV’s were rented for transport. The group camped the entire time.

Day 1 was spent in Reykjavík buying supplies, gathering rented cooking equipment, and determining the best packing technique to fit everything in the vehicles. Once loaded on Day 2, the first stop was a hike up Eldborg spatter cone. Vehicular problems forced cancellation of exploration of Snæfellsnes and required a major change in the itinerary, eliminating the crossing of the Sprengisandur in favor of visiting the East Iceland fjord country via the Ring Road. Three days were spent exploring the magnificent, desolate, glacially scoured West Fjords. An unusual point of interest was a hot spring on the shoreline at the Hotel Reykjanes that allowed growth of a miniature coral reef.

After nights in Hvammstangi and Akureyri, 4 nights camping at Mývatn allowed time to explore modern and ancient rifting along the midocean ridge, numerous volcano types, and the renowned waterfalls along the Jökulsá á Fjöllum, including Goðafoss, Dettifoss Selfoss, and Ásbyrgi. Visits were made to Krafla caldera, Hverfell and Ludent tuff cones, Hrossaborg, the rootless craters of Skútústaðir and Námaskarð Hverir geothermal area.

The route to the East Fjords passes the Moðrudalsfjallgarður volcanic chain in the bleak wasteland of the eastern highlands. Fjord country roads follow the shoreline down the east coast to Höfn where valley glaciers descend from the Vatnajökull ice sheet to the southern coastal plain. Jökulsárlón, the iceberg lagoon, was nearly ice-free due to unusual winds.

Exploration of Vík, Skaftafell, and Lakagígar was marred by heavy rain and wind but they ceased for Eldgjá and Landmannalaugar. Seas were calm for the ferry crossing to Heimaey and exploration of the island, including climbing Eldfell and a visit to the Pompeii of the North.

Stops at Strokkur, Gullfoss, and Þingvellir on the return to Reykjavík completed the Ring Road circuit. The final field day was spent exploring the Reykjanes rift zone and relaxing at the Blue Lagoon.

In spite of the radical itinerary change, the trip was deemed a great success. Everyone vowed to return to Iceland.