Volunteers wanted | Thórsmörk Trail Volunteers

Dec 22

Back to basics in 2024

Our first week of applications for the 2024 Trailteams has been busy and we are delighted with the response to our call for volunteers. We are very happy to welcome back so many old friends along with all the new applicants. We look forward to working together and the exciting season ahead.

Next summer our teams will return to several of our favourite work sites to continue trail improvements but our focus in 2024 will be several new projects on the remote sections of the trail network that have so far received little attention. These sites are quite far from our camps so our teams can expect a lot of hiking next season.

The proposed projects include new work sites close to Morinsheiði and additional sections of the trails on Útigönguhöfði where good progress has been made in the last two seasons. As the number of hikers increases, the main aim of this work is to improve drainage and reduce erosion on these remote and fragile trails.

Although we generally use stonework on the high trails, we will continue to build with timber on the lower sections and within the forest. Several new techniques have been developed in Thórsmörk in recent years and this work will continue on Valahnúkur and the Laugavegur Trail (south of Þröngá).

Examples of our techniques and work tasks planned for 2024…

Constructing log steps

Stone steps and drain construction (Jakob Svendsen).

Log steps design including ‘drain platform’

Log step construction on Réttarfell

Constructing stone drains (Ole Kattein)

‘Timber ladder’ step construction on Valahnúkur (Ole Kattein)

Building box steps (Melissa Davies)

Making trail markers (Tanith Jones)

Stone drain construction

Our teams fill up quite quickly, so if you would like to join us on the trails in Thórsmörk and Goðaland next summer, don’t delay sending in your application. As always, placement allocations begin in the New Year.

Full details including dates and application forms can be found here…

Volunteer opportunities

Dec 15

Volunteers wanted! Applications for 2024 are now open

Today we begin our search for volunteers for 2024.

The new programme includes both three and six-week volunteer placements as well as longer placements for team leaders. Places are limited and allocations begin in the New Year, so if you would like to join us next summer, don’t delay!

Full details including placement descriptions, dates and application forms are now available here…

Volunteer opportunities

Dec 9

Long-term volunteer placements

Next summer we will be hosting long-term volunteers for 7-8 weeks at our Thórsmörk and Goðaland camps.

Our long-term volunteers work closely with their Forestry Service colleagues and are involved in all aspects of the Trailteam programme. This includes working on practical trail maintenance tasks in small groups as well taking on leadership responsibilities and supporting the 3 and 6-week volunteer teams.

Platform and box steps (Melissa Davies)

For this exciting challenge, we are looking for participants who have experience of working with teams, enjoy camping and spending time hiking in wild and remote areas. These placements are especially well suited to applicants who wish to gain experience of practical conservation work, trail maintenance and team leadership.

Full details about the long-term placements and our other volunteer opportunities can be found on our website. Applications for 2024 will open on December 15th.

Volunteer opportunities

Dec 6

Trailteam plans for 2024

December is a very busy month in the Trailteam office. Planning for our 2024 Trailteam season is now well underway and the search for volunteers for next year will soon begin.

As well as our 3 and 6-week projects, a limited number of longer placements will also be available. We are looking for participants who have some experience of camping and hill walking, enjoy wilderness landscapes and are ready for a challenge.

Kathryn Welch joined us for a 3-week volunteer placement last summer and wrote about her adventures with the volunteers in Thórsmörk… Kathryn’s blog

Applications for 2024 volunteer placements will open on December 15th.

Volunteer opportunities

Jan 26

Final call for volunteers for our 2023 Trailteams!

Applications for our Thórsmörk Trailteams will close next week as we are nearing the end of our search for international volunteers who will join us this summer. If you are still considering a 3 or 6-week volunteer placement this season, please do get in contact before January 31st.

No previous experience of trail construction work is necessary as practical training will be provided. We are looking for participants who have some experience of camping and hill walking, enjoy wilderness landscapes and are ready for a challenge. Iceland’s notoriously changeable weather means that our teams have to be well prepared with warm clothing, good waterproofs and sturdy tents. Due to the strenuous nature of our work, participants must be physically fit and as many of our work sites are in remote locations, we do a lot of hiking to get to them! Our team is chosen from applicants and there is no participation fee.

Full details about the placements including dates and application forms can be found on our website…
https://trailteam.is/opportunities/

Our Thórsmörk Trailteam applications close on Tuesday, January 31st and the remaining placements will be confirmed by February 15th.
Applications for our new long-term volunteer placements will remain open.