June 28, 2024
We hope all of your kids have made it home safely! This morning, we woke up bright and early, with half of our crew heading to the airport for morning flights, while those leaving in the afternoon got to sleep in and enjoy pastries from a local bakery for breakfast. They all took advantage of the constant sunlight last night to stay up as late as they could, doing everything possible to spend a few more minutes hanging out with their new friends. As we finished paperwork, laughter filled the halls of the hostel, and we couldn’t help but appreciate how close they grew in this short time.
It has been such an incredible time here with your children, and we would like to thank each of you for believing in this opportunity and trusting us with them. We know that they will each do great things! They are full of great energy, and we wish them well on their next adventures this summer. Hopefully, they bring back home some of the joy they experienced these last two weeks!
Camille and Jackson
June 27, 2024
We’ve been incredibly busy since our last update, especially the last four days that we spent trekking the Laugavegur Trail through some of the most beautiful scenery we had all ever witnessed. It has been a whirlwind of snow, rain, and the occasional sunshine (which we all appreciate much more now)! Though we’ve been busy and our bodies are tired, the group has bonded together in a profound way. Since we last were able to check in we traveled all the way from the wonderful western coast of Iceland to the mountainous region of the southeast. We apologize for the delay in our update, but we hope that our retelling of the adventures we shared in that time will carry the vigor and spirit which the kids brought to each day and activity.
After leaving our wonderful campsite at the sheep farm we headed to a locally known spot, the Glymur waterfall. As we hiked through a thick forest of brush and beautiful Arctic Lupin, the shrubbery opened up and we found ourselves on the edge of a valley looking up the river at the massive Glymur waterfall. Descending down through a cave, we had an epic river crossing and started up the steep switchbacks to the other side of the valley. We each conquered our fears of the drastic drop-off to our left, but none as fearlessly as Finn who bravely navigated his way to the viewpoint. Together we all took in the wondrous falls, then we headed back down and off to our rafting excursion. We fueled up with some delicious burgers then headed down the rapids, and although the glacial water was freezing, MK and Henry led the charge in a heated war between rafts. We joyously finished our trip, laughter echoing through the canyon as we tossed ourselves back and forth into the water. Thankfully, we took hot showers and jumped into a hot tub and sauna that were awaiting us upon our arrival. After heading back to camp we made our own tacos and burritos, and Strickland channeled his inner Gordon Ramsay using the leftover tortillas and cheese to make quesadillas for the group. Graham and MK led one of the best moonups of our trip, and we all shared a beautiful moment huddled in the dining tent as the classic Icelandic rain came down outside.
The next day the rain didn’t let up, so we swapped out our plans and headed to the warmth of the community pool in Selfoss. Our LOD’s, Harrison and Lil did a great job of motivating the group that morning, even with the inclimate weather. With the kids much happier, we further made the most of our rainy day and headed into a food hall where everyone had their choice of comfort food. Enzo led the boys into the ice cream shop next door, satisfyingly slurping on their milkshakes as we boarded the bus and stopped back by the Thingvellir National Park. We overlooked the Silfra Fissure and had new perspective on the incredible experience we had earlier in the trip snorkeling between continental plates. With plenty of free time left at camp, we bounced on the blob and held raucous WWE matches underneath the most incredible sunset we saw all trip. Our guide, Karl, made us a delicious bolognese, but we soon realized that our pasta had somehow gone missing. We got creative, and once again Chef Strickland made us quesadillas, which we curiously paired with the meat sauce. Bolognese quesadillas ended up being a hit! Games of jackpot were then played, and belly laughs filled the air as Graham’s witty sense of humor came out in full display.
The next day we woke up to great weather and filled our day with the missed sights of the day before. Jumping from one amazing location to the next, we first saw the great Geysir, which was just down the street from our campsite. It erupts every ten minutes, and we watched until our LOD’s, Enzo and Kennedy, reminded us that we still had more to see. Once we were all back aboard the bus, Karl drove us to what he called “Iceland’s Niagara Falls”: the Gulfoss waterfall. Finn brought out his camera and snapped some incredible pictures of the enormous, misty falls. The gift shop and food court was an equally desirable attraction for the kiddos, and after filling our stomachs with snacks and warm drinks we made our way further down the road to another waterfall just a bit off the beaten path. Karl’s local knowledge paid off, and we got to gaze at another beautiful waterfall along the massive glacially-fed river. Henry and the other boys fantasized about the fishing opportunities which could be had, climbing up and
down the salmon ladder until Karl called us back and reminded us we still had a lava tunnel to see. After another short drive, we donned helmets and headlamps and headed underground into a fascinating subterranean world. Our awesome tour guide, Mack, gave us an awesome run down of the unique conditions in Icelandic caves before giving us the opportunity to experience complete silence and darkness 20 meters below the Earth’s surface. Although we were just a bit cold and wet from the afternoon showers, we still made the most of a farm on our way home that had delicious ice cream and huge windows to gaze at the cows who produced the milk that made it. That night, we had a delicious pizza dinner at camp provided by Arctic Adventures, and afterwards the kids took the opportunity to throw on their swimsuits and play on the blob a bit more amidst a torrential downpour. From the warmth of the restaurant, and to the amusement of another group of tourists, the leaders had a great laugh watching the chaos ensue outside.
The next day was our first day of preparation for our trekking section, and after an early morning eating our new favorite breakfast of Icelandic skyr and muesli, we hopped in the van and headed east for the trekking capital of Iceland. We briefly stretched our legs on the way, having another opportunity to bounce on the biggest blob we had seen yet. There were some small kids from an Icelandic school there, and all of the girls got bouqets of wildflowers from the new friends we made. Back in the van, we had just a bit more to drive to the start of the hike where we quickly made some sandwiches and headed down the trail to see the breathtaking Haifoss waterfall. On our way, we explored an incredibly lush area with many smaller falls, a preserved viking hut, and cruised alongside a massive glacial valley made up of a rainbow of sediment deposits. We only had to get in the van for a few minutes before we arrived at our favorite stay of the trip, the Holaskogur Hut, a remote hostel in the National Park. Jackson grilled hot dogs for everyone and we had a wonderful moonup led by Henry and Carlisle before a great night of rest in warm, cozy beds.
The next morning, Karl and Jackson headed into town to stock up on our food for trekking, while Camille and Emily lead the charge in cleaning the hut and making pancakes for the group. Fueled up for a busy day, we travelled to Landmannaluagar, the base camp for Iceland’s most famous trekking trail.
Although it was drizzly, we had a great hike up the green canyon and were able to warm our bodies in the natural hot springs at camp afterwards. Relaxing in the steaming water, Jackson had a great conversation with Henry, Strickland, and Harrison which none of them will soon forget. We tanked up on a great meal of smoked salmon pasta with a cream sauce, then our LOD’s, Lil and Harrison, helped their leaders to prepare the group for the big day ahead. We had lessons about trekking etiquette and how to stay happy on our longest and most wet day, then enjoyed cake and cookies before a windy night’s rest.
With 27 kilometers, about 16 miles ahead of us, we woke up early and fueled ourselves with cereal and yogurt before making lots of sandwiches for the day ahead. We climbed back through the field of volcanic rocks, up into the highlands and the glaciers we’d gazed at the day before. Our LOD’s, Strickland and MK, did a great job of motivating the group through the rough conditions of the mountains. Although it was tough, we made it to lunch at the Hrafntinnusker hut, the halfway point of our day. We knew that the most difficult part was behind us, and happily chowed down on all of our sandwiches in the hut before continuing on. With full stomachs and newfound motivation we continued onwards, thankful for the skies clearing to reveal an incredible scene below us. Once we made it a few more miles, Alftavatn, the Swan lake, appeared miles below us and the snow turned back into solid ground. Ask your kids about cresting the last ridge that day. It was an incredible sight to behold, surrounded by steam from geothermal vents, and we raced down the mountain with the thought of warm tents and a filling dinner swirling through our minds. Unfortunately, our trailer doors were stuck, but in an amazing stroke of luck, we knew the other group who had reserved the hut that night and quickly befriended them. They let us into the warmth and cooked us delicous tomato soup, while we huddled around the heaters and filled the room with laughter and tales of our incredible saunter through the most amazing scenery. Once we got into our trailer, we set up camp and ate even more soup in the hut, thanking our new friends from all over the
world. We shared sleeves of cookies at moonup, huddled in a circle by the lake, before passing out in our tents that night.
After the huge day before, we were slow to rise for our second day of trekking. Thankfully, we only had about half of the distance to cover, and we were able to sneak back into the hut we’d occupied the night before to make oatmeal and coffee. After enjoying as much time as we could in the heat, we packed up our trailer and donned our packs. The sun was out today, and we happily rejoiced as we traipsed along the trail, led by future Olympian runner, Henry. Today was much flatter, and we kept up a steady pace to beat the rain we knew was coming that evening. After a nice lunch, we crossed a river and entered what could only be compared to the dark side of the moon. Mælifellssandur, a rocky desert formed in a few thousand year old volcanic crater, blew us away and we got to see beautiful sun beams and even a few rainbows on our way through. Today was marked by insightful trail talk between games of wavelength and twenty questions, and once our camp finally came into view we also got to see the 200 meter deep canyons of the river Markarfljót down the other side of the ridgeline. We set up our tents in record time, then pitched the big blue dining tent, just finishing in time to escape the rain. Carlisle was always vital to this test of our group’s teamwork, helping to get under the tent and hold up the poles while everyone else staked it down. Once we finished, Karl made us meatballs and mashed potatoes for dinner, which Kennedy was very helpful in preparing (cutting open the plastic bags it came in), as well as a Hungarian stew that he claimed was quite popular across Europe. With a hearty meal inside our bellies, we headed to bed as soon as we finished another great moonup with such an awesome crew.
Our last day of trekking! We happily packed up camp this morning, knowing we only had one more night to spend before we were back to showers and mattresses. Once again, the scenery during the hike was breathtaking! We continued down from the desert to the lush forest of Thorsmork. We were all in disbelief descending into the forest after lunch, still not convinced there were trees in Iceland. After crossing the deepest river yet, we were surrounded by Camille’s favorite, arctic lupin. As we put our shoes back on, Harrison and Strickland called out “baaaahhhs” across the valley to the sheep grazing the meadows. Doing a great job as LOD’s, Lily took up the rear, while Henry and the rest of the boys blazed our path into Basar. Once we were there, they continued their duties and Lily helped to entertain the girls as they cut vegetables and made a salad with Jackson. Strickland and the other boys helped Karl grill legs of lamb and baked potatoes over charcoal. As we enjoyed the national meal of Iceland for dinner, laughter filled the dining tent, even though our minds and bodies were exhausted. The rain was, once again, pouring down outside. We still made the most of our last night in the backcountry, and another great moonup brought closure to the hard, but incredibly rewarding experience we’d all just completed together. The girls all slept together that night after clearing out the tables in the blue tent, and everyone fell asleep with smiles their face.
The last full day together was a perfect end to such a wonderful trip! Harrison and Emily had been chosen as LOD’s, and Emily helped to set up a yogurt bar as we cleaned out all our food bins and finished off the rest of our dessert for breakfast. We had the fanciest Arctic Adventures bus yet come to pick us up, decked out with a full Icelandic offroading setup and leather seats inside. Making our way through the valley and across a few rivers, we stopped by the famous Seljalandsfoss waterfall. Continuing on our way, we stopped at the food hall in Selfoss for one final meal at our favorite spot. Camille treated the crew to ice cream afterwards, and we enjoyed blue skies in the courtyard watching the European Cup on a giant outdoor screen. Once we got into Reykjavik we dropped all of our things into our rooms and headed to the main strip, where all of the kids picked out souvenirs to commemorate our adventures.
Once we were all back together, we headed to Reykjavik Street Food, a local spot with wonderful soup and fish and chips that dissapeared in an instant. For our final moonup, we sat in the grass outside of the Reykjavik art museum, snacking on our favorite Icelandic cookies which Emily easily convinced Jackson to buy for the group’s final night together. A bellowing “baaaahhhh” filled the air to close out our last moonup, marking the end to such an incredible time together. This group was truly special, and we are so thankful for the memories and lasting friendships we made. As we head to the airport in the morning, we
hope that each and every one of the kids comes home with days worth of stories and a newfound desire to live in the moment and be their bravest selves! Thank you for providing them with such an opportunity, we can only hope it lived up to their wildest dreams.
Lily:
Thank yall so much fro allowing me to go on this trip. I’m very apriaciative of this oppurtunity and all of the things I was able to experiance. I love yall and cant wait to see you!
MK:
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you so much for sending me on this trip!! It was really a once in a lifetime oppertunity, and I will remember this for the rest of my life! It means so much that you were willing to send me on this amazing adventure! I cannot wait to see both of you and the rest of the family! I am so excited to tell you about everything that I have done and show you all of my pictures! I love you so much, and I am so excited to see you soon!
Love, -MK
Finn:
Hey Mom and Dad,
Writing to tell yalll thank you for sending me on this trip to Iceland. Truly this is a once in a lifetime oppertunity and I thank yall for letting me on this trip in the first place. Iceland has introduced me to so many new things, like how good lamb tastes, and what mild hypothermia feels like. Miss yall, the cats, and Jimmy John’s (cravings) dearly.
And may the carrier pigeon find you well, Finn
Graham:
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you for sending me on this trip, Iceland is a very beautiful place. The trekking was my favorite part and even though it was very long the views at the end made it worth it. It was very nice to get away from home and explore a country I have always wanted to go to. I cant wait to see you mom tomorrow and explore iceland together and for dad I cant wait to see you when I get back to the US
Love, Graham
Harrison:
Dear mom and dad thank you for sending me to iceland it was one the best experiences of my life, it was so fun and amazing. I saw so many amazing views and the white water rafting was the best part because we got to get in the water, and I also like swimming between the tectonic plates. It has been a blast
Henry:
Dear mom and dad I just wanted to say thank you for giving me the experience of a life time in travelling alone to another country. I cant wait to get back home and see you guys and hope I can continue travelling the world with you guys and even get another opportunity to travel alone.
Love, Henry
Strickland:
Dear mom and dad im so thankfull yall gave me the oprotunity to be here it has been so much fun. I have met so many people and learned so many things along the way. I cant wait to tell you guys everything love yall so much. byee.
love strickland
Lil:
Dear Mom and Dad. Thank yall so much for sneding me on this trip. I know I was skeptical at first but im so happy I did it and had the oppritunity to go to iceland. It has been so much fun and I have met so many great people. See you soon!
Emily:
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank yall so much for sending me on this trip! It is a expericence that I will talk about for the rest of my life. I have had so much fun! It has been such a good adventure. I cant wait to tell yall all about it and show yall all of the pictures that I have taken. I have loved the people that I have gotten to meet, everyone here is so nice. See yall soon!!! Love yall so much.
Carlisle:
Dear mom and dad, thank you so much for sending me to moondance! I have loved the trip so much, and I’m so grateful that you let me go on it!! It has been a once in a lifetime trip in such a cool place! I’m excited to tell you more about it tomorrow!!!! Thanks so so so much again!! Love y’all! – Carlisle
Kennedy:
Hey mom and dad! Thank you so much for allowing me to go to Iceland, I have had such an amazing time! I am so grateful that y’all have given me the opportunity to come on this trip, and I can’t wait to tell y’all about it when I return home. Love you!!!