Final Update from ICE 3A!
July 27, 2026
One last hallo from Iceland!!
As of right now, we are all huddled into our seats on the group flight home after the adventure of a lifetime. We can now all say that we’ve successfully completed our Icelandic thru hike!!! Everyone should be so incredibly proud of all the hard work they’ve put into the beautiful and challenging miles. We all got to experience some of the sunniest days of summer that Iceland has seen this year, making all of our moments feel even more special and technicolor.
Our first day of trekking acted as a precursor for what was to come. We took the miles slowly, allowing everyone to get used to this new part of our trip. We had our first of many river crossings that day, and Mia showed off her risk-taking abilities by being one of the first to cross the river. On the other side, we had some Haribo gummies and some chocolate to keep our minds off the chilly glacier water. Safe to say spirits were high! When we go to the campsite, Nate quickly made friends with some other hikers and we are all so impressed with how easily Nate can turn a stranger into a friend.
The campsites that night was one of the most beautiful campsites of the summer. Our tents were set up amongst weaving rivers and we were completely surrounded by giant, moss covered mountain peaks. That night we had Moonup on one of those peaks while lounging against the soft moss. We all laughed and talked about our pet peeves, and enjoyed the insane views that Iceland never fails to offer.
The next morning began our biggest day: a 16 mile hike through all of the different terrain that can be found on the Laudavager trail. Everybody CRUSHED this day and we were blessed with beautiful, rain-free skies. For dinner that night we had Alfredo pasta and told stories around the table. We got into our tents that night feeling accomplished and re-fueled.
The next day we set out for our next campsite: a barn with a community dining room for hikers. After getting to the campsite, Elle and Lana were some of the first to suggest that everyone lay out their sleeping bags on the barn floor to sleep that night. Quickly, everyone was on board and once we got the go-ahead from the campsite Warden, everyone piled into the wooden dining room for a night away from the wind. Before bed, McKee lead the group in a game of “death sack” (a hacky sack game), and Breezy was the first victor! Everyone decided that McLaine was one of the most consistent hacky sack players we’ve ever seen. After a few rounds, it was clear that death sack would be a new group favorite. While the games were going on, a few of us explored the rest of the campsite and stumbled across a little puppy named Rappy. Lana, Effie, and I let the 12-week old puppy chase us around and this was easily one of the highlights of the day.
The next day we headed for our next campsite, and spent the day walking side by side, continuing to get to know one another. That night we set up our kitchen tent in some Icelandic black sand at our beautiful campsite on a mountain ridge. McKee took Westy, Hayes, Ollie, and Hill to go exploring and they ended up sitting on a peak, watching as their shadows were splayed onto another mountain face. We had Moonup on that same peak and talked about the best lessons we’ve been taught and who taught us them.
The next morning it was time to hike to our final campsite of the summer. The weather could not have been more beautiful and many of us hiked in shorts. After one final river crossing we had finally made it to our destination. We pulled out all of the leftover candy and snacks we’d been saving up and had a well deserved afternoon feast. Shoes were off, there wasn’t a cloud in sight, and we’d all just finished over 50 miles of trekking!!! What an awesome afternoon.
We got out the guitar to play some music and a couple from the campsite over borrowed the guitar to perform a Scottish duet. Hill returned the favor and performed some American music for the group and it was so cool to watch Hill show off his talents.
The next day we drove back to Rekyjavik and spent the day wandering the town and eating a final banquet dinner at a town favorite called Dirty Burger. In bus hostel that night we gathered in a circle and took turns going around and giving everyone their own special “thank you” for specific moments on the trip. Everybody thanked Duncan for always making the group laugh when we needed it most.
And all of a sudden we were in the Keflavik airport, checking into our flights.
What a special and formative two weeks this has been for all of us. McKee and I could not be more proud of everyone and we hope that everyone will take all the great memories and lessons learned back home to their friends and family. It’s not easy to hike all those miles, but what is more impressive is how easily this group when from strangers to close friends.
Thank you families for trusting us with your awesome kids!!!
And thank you Iceland 3A for being such a great group to adventure with. McKee and I are going to miss yall like crazy!!!
All our love,
Ella and McKee
Music, Magic, and Good Meals in Iceland!
July 26, 2026
Hallo from Iceland!!!
Hard to believe we are a little over halfway through with our adventure. We are all packed into the van right now, heading towards our first day of trekking this afternoon! Spirits are high and hiking boots are tied.
Last time we wrote we had just finished up ziplining, which was a BLAST. The next day we were off to Silfra to suit up in some heavy dry suits and snorkel in glacier water between two tectonic plates. We learned that if you balance a flipper on your head then the swarming Icelandic flies will stay away from your face, so all of us straightened our backs and walked around with a paddle hat. Even if this tip isn’t that efficient, it was still pretty funny to look and see everyone standing with a paddle on their head. Ollie says that snorkeling might be his favorite activity yet!
After drying off, we headed back to our campsite for an early dinner and an impromptu game of ultimate frisbee. Duncan and Breezy were the two team captains and Duncan’s team called themselves the “Duncanators”. Hayes led his team to victory with a winning pass before we enjoyed a traditional Icelandic meal of fish stew.
The next day it was time to go white water rafting. We split up into two groups and found our spots in the raft. The groups paddled hard and when it came time for a mid-trip cliff jump, every single one of us took a leap of faith into the rushing river. Some of us even did the jump twice!
After changing out of our wetsuits we were greeted with warm hot tubs and a sauna at the rafting center. We thawed out and just when we thought the surprises were over, we were given burgers and fries for lunch. With dry clothes and a new pep in our step from the burgers, we took the group to a local dairy farm that is known for their homemade ice cream. Not only did we all get some insanely good ice cream, but the farm has an in-ground trampoline and we all climbed on.
That night, we had another crowd-pleasing meal: hot dogs!!!! While waiting for dinner, Westy and Hill got a group together to play some hacky sack. Our campsite has nearby geysers so we finished up our meals and walked over to the geyser for our nightly Moonup circle.
The next day began our longest drive of the trip for our stay in an Icelandic hut. Elle, as LOD, kept spirits high in the van as we shuffled through group song requests. On the way, we stopped to do a waterfall hike where Lana gathered the group for a Iceland family picture. Effie and I hiked together and bonded over our walking pace and friends at home.
Then it was time for the real treat: a night staying at a warm hut. Nate led the group in taking out the duffels of the trailer and loading them into our home for the night. McLaine and LG talked about how happy they were to have a night sitting on couches and sleeping in bunk beds. We sat around a table and played “spoons”, and Mia was the spoon champion of the group. For dinner we made chicken fajitas and a homemade cheesecake, and played some music with the Moondance guitar.
Now, we are off to trekking!!! We have stocked up on some trail snacks and are all excited to spend some quality time together in the highlands.
Next time we write we will all be Icelandic thru hikers!!!!
Talk soon!
Ella and Mckee and the Iceland Explorers of 3A
THANK YOU PARENTS!
Mia: Hi Mom and Dad! Thank you so much for sending me to Iceland and I’m having the best time! Love yall
Hayes: Hi Mom and Dad! Iceland is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been and thank yall for sending me here.
Mclaine: Hi Mom and Dad! I am having so much fun here and I love my group so much! Love and miss yall!
LG: Hii I’m having so much fun. The views are insane and I have a really good group! Thank you so much for sending me here!!!
Westy: Hi Mom and Dad! Iceland is insane, I am having so much fun here. Thank you so much, I’m so glad I went on this trip!
Elle: Hey fam, I miss y’all!!! Thank y’all so so much for letting me go and im having an amazing time! Love yall
Effie: Hi mom and dad!! Miss you all so much and thank you all so much for sending me on this trip I’m having such a good time! Love you guys
Duncan: Hi Mom and Dad. I really miss y’all and just can’t wait to be home with you. My group is great. Love you. Goodbye.
Nate: Thanks for letting me go on a this trip, it is certainly different from Nashville, but it is cool. I miss my dog. Love you, bye.
Breezy: Hey fam!!!! Love and miss you guys so much Iceland is amazinggggg and I can’t thank you enough for sending me here. Love ya!
Lana: Hey guys!!! Missing you. I’m having so much fun, we are about to start our trek (send prayers). I love y’all so much and am so thankful you sent me on this trip!!! Hi Collier and Jo if you’re checking, I love y’all too. 💕💕
Ollie: Hey guys hope you are doing well I’m having a great time so far we’re about to start our five day trek and so it’ll be sick to be off the grid completely for a while. Last night we got to laundry and it was totally worth it can’t wait to see you guys soon tell every one at home I say hi and thank you again for sending me this is great!
Hill: Hi mom and dad! Iceland has been so fun so far and I am very excited to start our trek today, thank y’all so much for sending me out here!!
Starting Off Strong!
July 20, 2026
Greetings from Iceland! The past few days have been so exciting. The group has already become a tightly knitted team, just after three days. Since we landed in Iceland, we have hit the ground running. We kicked off the trip with a visit to an authentic Icelandic hot spring and spa, where we relaxed after a long travel day. The spa ritual began with a cold plunge, where Lana and LG were the first to brave the bone-aching temperature before hopping into the sauna. Following the spa experience, we travelled to our first hostel, where we dropped bags and headed to an Icelandic pizzeria, where we order 7 massive pizzas. Hill made sure there was not even a slice to waste. We all left the pizzeria full-bellied and ready for our first moonup.
The next morning we hit the road early in order to make it to our first hike of the trip, where we hiked the perimeter of a volcanic crater. Ollie had done his research on Iceland prior to the trip and was sharing his knowledge with the rest of the group on the hike. After the hike, we headed to our horseback riding, where we first learned about the amazing history of the 6-generational horse farm. The horseback ride was a huge hit for the group, especially for Breezy because it was her first time up on a horse. We saw a hot spring, crossed a river, and saw some amazing Icelandic birds upon the unique Icelandic horses. After riding horses, we went to a local farm where we set up camp and ate some delicious home made lasagna and mashed potatoes. That night we set out to the beach, where Hayes taught the group how to skip rocks. We hung out and ate chocolate by the Fjord, which was a great way to kick off our first night sleeping in tents. After the beach was our first moonup in the wilderness, where our first leaders of the day were assigned, Westy and McClaine. They were appointed due to their amazing attitudes and willingness to lend a helping hand.
The following day we packed up camp and headed out in the van in order to begin our next hike to a thermal river. Nate led the charge on our predominately uphill hike. It was good way to condition our legs and break in some of our new hiking boots! We earned our swim in the thermal river, where we soaked in the sun and rested easy in the hot water. Effie and Duncan kept spirits high on our hike down back to the trailhead, creating conversations with nearly everyone in the group. Smiles were on faces as we headed into our afternoon zip-line ride. Elle and Mia were our fearless leader on the zip-line front, as we descended hundreds of feet down a canyon over a raging river and numerous waterfalls. It was an unreal experience. That night we set up our kitchen tent and we ate Mexican soup, which was a hit to all. Following dinner, we assigned our first dish crew which was spearheaded by Duncan. After we ate dinner we the closed the day with moonup, led by our LODs, under a blue sky on an amazing Icelandic hillside.
This group so far is so great. They are so close already, and we are so excited to see how much closer they can get by the end of our two week stint here in Iceland. Thank you parents for sharing your children with us in order to provide an unforgettable experience in such a beautiful and wild setting.
Until next time,
McKee and Ella
Student Shoutouts!
July 19, 2026
Hi Mom and Dad! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip. I’m having a great time and I’ve made so many new friends and done so many cool things. Miss and love y’all! And hi Carmen I miss you! – Mia
Hey mom and dad!! I’m having the best time here with great people!!! I miss y’all and I had a blast on the zip line! Say hi to sully and Murphy for me!!! I love yall so much! – Elle
Hi mom and dad! I’m having a great time here in Iceland and I can’t wait to see y’all again, but at the same time, don’t want this to end! Love y’all. -Hill
Hey guys I’m having a great time really missing home and my clean clothes but it’s totally worth it to be here Iceland is great. Can’t wait to see you guys soon enough tell pearl and gally I say hi and cheer for Spain for me dad seeya -Ollie
Hey guys, hope all is well. I am having an amazing time in Iceland. I have been having a great time and can’t wait to see you guys and again, and get back on the vineyard. Sincerely, Westy
Hellur!!! Missing yall, I am having such an amazing time thank you so much Mom and Dad for sending me on this trip, you told me I would have so much fun and I am having even more. Have amazing pics to send Pappee and Papa. Hope France is great, safe flights! I love you guys and can’t wait to tell you all about this!!! P.S. Jo and Collier if you are reading this I love & miss you, Collier keep Phil safe I miss him.- Lana
Hi mom dad Niko and Kate! I miss you guys so much and can’t wait to see y’all! I’m having such a fun time and Iceland has been sooo cool. Thank you guys for sending me on this trip and my favorite thing has been zipp lining. I love you all and sending so many hugs and kisses home! ❤️Love, Effie
Hey Mom, Dad, Abby, Mason, and Wade! Iceland is awesome and so are the people, the views are amazing and we have done so many cool things! I miss y’all and can’t wait to see y’all again. Love, Hayes
Hey guys!! Mom, Dad, Parker, Rocco, and Buddy! I am living my best life with the best people. Thank you so so so much for sending me here, I love all the views, activities, and the snacks 😋Love and miss you guys so much!Give Rocco and buddy extra cuddles for me Love, Breezy
Hey Mom, Dad, Jack and Cate. It is so awesome, here thank you for sending me it has been so fun. I can’t wait to see y’all again and say hello to the dogs for me. Have fun in Africa Jack! Love, Duncan
Hi mom and dad! I love it here I’m having so much fun. I have the perfect amount of layers 🙂 today we went snorkeling and it was sick and I’ve taken lots of videos on my go pro. Miss you and love you! Xoxo LG
Hi mom and dad! I love it here thank you for giving me the opportunity to experience this! I have so much to tell you! I love you and miss you and can’t wait to see you. Love, McLaine
Hello mom and dad! Iceland is amazing and super pretty, and we’ve done so much cool stuff, and have a lot of stuff still to do. Miss y’all and love you, can’t wait to see you when I get back -Nate
Safe Arrival!
July 15, 2026
Hello Iceland Families!
We heard from our leaders that the group has landed safely in Iceland! Please remember that our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will post trip updates throughout the trip! This will allow you to follow along with their adventure. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
