From Langidalur | Thórsmörk Trail Volunteers

Nov 10

Our summer in Thórsmörk

We would like to thank all our volunteers for another amazing season out on the trails in Thórsmörk and Goðaland.

Despite the challenge of ongoing travel restrictions this summer, we were able to go ahead with our volunteer projects as planned. This season we hosted 30 international volunteers and together our teams completed more than 170 weeks of practical work. As usual, our activities were focused on trail maintenance tasks and conservation projects in the area but our volunteers were also involved in practical projects at Tumastaðir Forestry Station where they worked with staff on tasks in the tree nursery and also helped with tree planting projects.

Once again our trail work in Thórsmörk focused on the busy paths on Valahnúkur where the teams returned to face the last few remaining difficult sections. As well as repairs to stone steps, the teams used forest timber to build several new sections of steps on both the east and west trails. In Goðaland, work centred on the Fimmvörðuháls trail with the main work sites close to Morinsheiði where work included repairing winter damage and improving drainage. This was particularly challenging as the sites are quite remote and a long walk out from our Básar volunteer camp.

We hope the teams enjoyed their time with us and would like to thank everyone for their hard work and support. Preparations for next season have now begun and 2022 placement details, including dates and application forms, will be available here on December 15^th.

https://trailteam.is/opportunities/

May 23

Foresters and Trailteamers

We began our practical trail work earlier this month and for our first team project of the season, we were joined by forestry students who are taking part in Skógræktin’s internship programme at Tumastaðir Forestry Station. Our trail volunteers have been involved in several planting projects with colleagues at Tumastaðir in recent years and we were excited to host a return visit for the foresters.

This was the earliest project we have ever organised and it was an excellent opportunity to get ahead with our maintenance tasks before the arrival of visitors on the trails. We had cold-bright weather conditions and the team was almost completely alone in the area… which is quite a special experience.

Together we worked on repairs to winter damage on the main Langidalur-Húsadalur trail, explored the trail network to locate work sites for the season and also found time for a hike up to Rjúpnafell.

We would like to thank the team for their hard work and look forward to working with more of our Forestry Service colleagues out on the Thórsmörk trails.

Pictured: Lunch break on top of Rjúpnafell

May 3

Returning for our ninth Trailteam season in Thórsmörk

Our ninth Trailteam season has now begun and we are expecting our first international volunteers to join us at the Langidalur camp today.

Despite international travel restrictions and ongoing uncertainty, we intend to go ahead with all of our planned projects and are hopeful that many of our volunteers will still be able to join us. Heavy rain in recent weeks has left us with plenty of maintenance tasks on the trail network and we are eager to get started this week.

We will begin with the opening the Langidalur volunteer camp and then focus on maintenance and repairs to water damage on the main trails. This early season start means that there is time to survey the trail network and plan work projects ahead of the arrival of our main volunteer teams in June.

Weather conditions in Thórsmörk have been excellent during the last few days, cold with bright sunshine and just the occasional snow shower.

Mar 25

Starting in 6 weeks time…

We will soon be arriving back in Thórsmörk and preparing the Langidalur camp for our first volunteers of the season.

There is plenty of work waiting for us and we are very exited to be heading back after our winter away.

Picture taken last week by our friends from Húsadalur, Volcano Huts

Feb 28

Ready and waiting…

We have now completed preparations for the season and remain hopeful that our international volunteers will be able to join us in Thórsmörk and Goðaland this summer.

We received a huge amount of interest in the placements this year and had some difficult decisions when making the selection. The team includes volunteers from fifteen countries and it was very good that many of those who were unable to join us due to travel disruption last season, have signed up to try again this summer.

We have prepared an ambitious programme with lots new timber construction tasks, long-range adventures, mapping work and plenty of tree planting… but more of that later.

We look forward to getting back to work on the trails with our teams as soon as restrictions allow and it is safe to do so.

Pictured: Sunday breakfast with the team, last summer at the Langidalur volunteer camp.