Field Trips

The conference registration form provides the opportunity to register for pre-conference, mid-conference, and post-conference field trips.

Pre-Conference Field Trip

Trip Pr-1:  Northern Iceland, September 1–4

This trip is only intended for people who are used to hikes over rough terrain. Most of the travel is on a rough highland track, only passable by four-wheel-drive vehicles. A few kilometers of hiking may be expected each day. Sleeping bag accommodation in highland huts, with comfortable inside temperatures. Gear required:   light sleeping bag, warm and waterproof clothing, hiking boots. Outside temperatures may drop below freezing. Participants will prepare food. All travel, food, and lodging included in price.

Participants must have arrived in Reykjavík no later than August 31. Flight to Akureyri early morning September 1. Arrival in Reykjavík by plane on the afternoon of September 4, in time for the conference icebreaker.

Maximum number of participants:  20
Price per person:  140.195 ISK

Highlights —
Lake Mývatn — unique volcanic formations and ecosystems. Askja volcano and caldera lake. New Holuhraun lava field, erupted 2014–2015, third largest lava flow in Iceland in historical time. Herðubreið tuya and other subglacially erupted formations in the northern volcanic zone. Jökulsárgljúfur canyons with Ásbyrgi depression and Dettifoss waterfall — formed in a prehistoric catastrophic flood. Tjörnes sediments, recording late Tertiary and Early Pleistocene climate history. Húsavík village, whale museum, and exploration museum.

Links —
www.visitmyvatn.is
www.vatnajokulsthjodgardur.is
www.hvalasafn.is
www.explorationmuseum.com

Mid-Conference Field Trips

The conference registration fee includes mid-conference field trips (buses and lunches) planned for Wednesday, September 7. (Pre- and post-conference field trips will require additional fees.)

Trip M-1:   Interior Iceland

This trip is suitable for people of all ages. Walking and hiking requirements are moderate. Travel is by bus on paved and gravel roads. Gear required:  sturdy hiking shoes, warm and waterproof clothing. All travel and food included in conference registration fees for attendees. Registrants of the conference are allowed to bring guests that are not conference attendees.

Maximum number of participants:  100
Departure from Reykjavík early morning on September 7 and return before dinner.

Highlights:  The trip will start from Reykjavík and head inland toward Skálpanes, at the southeastern margin of the Langjökull glacier. The major aspects of the geology and glaciology of Iceland will be explored on the way. First, the volcano-tectonic activity of the Mid-Atlantic oceanic ridge will be illustrated by the observation of shield volcanos, lava flows, faults, and fractures in the Thingvellir National Park. Then, a hike along the Langjokull glacier in Skalpanes will be devoted to glacial dynamics, glacial morphology, and subglacial volcanism. On the way back to Reykjavik, we will stop at Geysir (geothermal activity) and Gullfoss (waterfall).

Trip M-2:  West-Coast Iceland

This trip is suitable for people of all ages. Walking and hiking requirements are moderate. Travel is by bus on paved roads. Gear required:  sturdy hiking shoes, warm and waterproof clothing. All travel and food included in conference registration fees for attendees. Registrants of the conference are allowed to bring guests that are not conference attendees.

Maximum number of participants:  50
Departure from Reykjavík early morning on September 7 and return before dinner.

Highlights:   The field trip will start from Reykjavik and head northward along the coast toward the districts of Hvalfjörður, Akranes, and Borgarfjörður.  A visit to the Skálafell summit within the Esja massif will also be included, if possible.  We will observe various periglacial landforms (polygons, patterned ground), debris flows, and gullies similar to martian hillside gullies.  A stop will also be made at a site displaying interglacial lavas intercalated between subglacially erupted hyaloclastites.

Trip M-3:  Southern-Coast Iceland

This trip is only intended for people who can handle long hikes over rough terrain. Walking and hiking requirements are moderate to heavy. Travel is by bus on paved roads. Gear required:  hiking boots (crampons to be provided), warm and waterproof clothing. All travel and food included in conference registration fees for attendees. Registrants of the conference are allowed to bring guests that are not conference attendees.

Maximum number of participants:  50
Departure from Reykjavík early morning on September 7 and return before dinner.

Highlights:  The field trip will start from Reykjavik and head toward the southern coast.  The main objective of the trip is to explore the Sólheimajökull outlet glacier flowing from the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap.  During the hike on the glacier we will observe dirt cones, moulins, and moraines and learn about the mechanisms governing the flow of temperate glaciers.  Additional stops during this trip will be made at Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss (waterfalls, outwash plains).  If time allows, a visit will also be made to the geothermal power plant at Hellisheiði, situated in a lava field at the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Post-Conference Field Trips

Trip Po-1:  Southern Iceland, September 10–12

This trip is suitable for everyone. Walking and hiking requirements are moderate and optional. Travel is by bus on paved roads. Gear required:  sturdy hiking boots (street shoes are inadequate), warm and waterproof clothing. Accommodation in hotels/guesthouses where rooms may be shared to reduce costs. All food and lodging will be included in price.

Departure from Reykjavík early Saturday morning by bus, and Return to Reykjavík by plane Monday evening.

Maximum number of participants:  50
Price per person, twin/double room:  114.300 ISK
Price per person, single room:  132.300 ISK

Highlights —
South Iceland volcanic zone, drive across the junction between the Eurasian and N-American tectonic plates. Eyjafjallajökull volcano (2010 eruption). Skógafoss waterfall. Mýrdalsjökull ice cap and Mýrdalssandur, site of catastrophic floods caused by eruptions in the subglacial volcano Katla. Laki lava fields from the 1783 Skaftáreldar eruption, the second largest eruption in Iceland´s history, which had devastating consequences in Iceland and elsewhere. Skeiðarársandur outwash plain, site of huge jökulhlaups (floods) from the Grímsvötn subglacial volcano in Vatnajökull. Skaftafell National Park and Öræfajökull volcano, Iceland´s highest mountain. Jökulsárlón — the Glacier Lagoon, calving icebergs from the Breiðamerkurjökull outlet glacier. Höfn village. Flight from Höfn to Reykjavík.

Links —
www.katlageopark.is
www.south.is/en/moya/toy/index/service/skaftarstofa-visitor-centre-kirkjubaejarklaustur
www.vatnajokulsthjodgardur.is
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jökulsárlón

Trip Po-2:  Western Iceland, September 10–11

This trip is suitable for everyone. Walking and hiking requirements are moderate and optional. Travel is by bus on paved roads. Gear required:  sturdy hiking boots (street shoes not sufficient), warm and waterproof clothing. Accommodation in guesthouses. All transport, food, and lodging will be included in price.

Departure from Reykjavik early Saturday morning by bus and return to Reykjavik late Sunday afternoon.

Maximum number of participants:  45
Price per person:  47.400 ISK

Highlights —
Settlement Centre in Borgarnes, Eldborg volcanic crater, birdcliffs at Arnarstapi, Snæfellsjökull volcano and surroundings, northern part of Snæfellsnes peninsula, Stykkishólmur town with a view to the starting point of Viking age voyages to North America, Volcano Museum.

Links —
www.landnam.is
http://www.west.is/en/inspiration/snaefellsjokull-national-park
www.eldfjallasafn.is

Trip Po-3:  Shield Volcano Hike, September 10

This trip is only intended for people who can handle long hikes over rough terrain. Total hiking is ~10 kilometers, 4–5 hours. Travel is by bus and four-wheel-drive vehicles. Gear required:  sturdy hiking boots (essential in the rough lava fields), warm and waterproof clothing. All travel and food will be included in the price.

Total duration:  10–12 hours
Maximum number of participants:  30
Price per person:  30.900 ISK

Highlights —
Departure from Reykjavík Saturday morning. Drive to the northern slope of the Skjaldbreiður shield volcano, formed in a large eruption ~9000 years ago. Hike from ~500-meter elevation to the summit crater at ~1060 meters. View toward Langjökull, the second largest ice cap in Iceland. View toward tuyas and tindar ridges, formed in subglacial eruptions during the last glacial period. The hike continues southward from the summit crater, pick-up by four-wheel-drive vehicles. Visit to Þingvellir, the site of the Viking Age parliament. Dinner in that region, arrival in Reykjavík in the evening.

Link —
www.þingvellir.is

Refer to the Contacts section for further information.