Hiking trails in the East fjords

SEEDS 075. Hiking trails in the East fjords

07.07 - 19.07

ENVI / CONS

8 Volunteers

Age: 18+

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will be doing environmental trail work in the Fjarðabyggð district in the East fjords of Iceland, supporting the environmental department of the local municipality and in cooperation with the hikers club of the area, Ferðafélag Fjarðamanna.

In this project SEEDS volunteers will be mostly doing construction, repair and/or marking work in hiking trails and walking paths in the easternmost area of Iceland. The main tasks will be to mark and repair hiking trails or walking paths in an isolated area of mountains and fjords. The working area of Gerpissvæðið is isolated from the urban areas and far from the towns in the municipality. See more at  https://goo.gl/sJAeMM.

Well maintained paths enable people to visit these amazing areas without damaging them and this important work also helps to improve safety for visitors.  Additional tasks may be cleaning or beautifying the area, like hand-picking garbage or collecting trash blown by the wind or brought by the sea to the shores and surrounds.

The working day normally runs from 09:00 - 17:00 with breaks for lunch and coffee; however, please be prepared for some flexibility due to the nature of Iceland's changeable weather. No previous experience is necessary but the work is demanding and requires a good physical condition.  As it is outdoors work, volunteers shall be ready to adapt and be flexible with the working and free-time schedule, as depending on the weather, we may not be able to perform some of the tasks or activities planned.

Volunteers need to be prepared for working and walking in a wild landscape and sometimes cold weather. Be prepared to experience all kinds of weather and bring warm winter clothes as the tasks take place outside and it can get cold. Bring warm under-layers, waterproofs, walking shoes/boots, a good sleeping bag and gloves.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS volunteers will be hosted in a local mountain hut in the municipality, away from the towns. Volunteers will sleep on mattresses on the floor sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

The house is equipped with a kitchen. Volunteers will share the duties of preparing food, cooking meals and cleaning. There is no shower in the house, but we will have free access to showers in the local swimming pool.

Do not forget some traditional/typical food or drinks from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: The project takes place in the municipality of Fjarðabyggð, East of Iceland in a beautiful area surrounded by magnificent mountains, picturesque fjords and the sea.  Fjarðabyggð is comprised of six fjords, Mjóifjörður, Eskifjörður, Reyðarfjörður, Norðfjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður and Stöðvafjörður. The name of the municipality, which is the most easterly one in Iceland, has a strong fjord connection, meaning the people/or the settlement of the fjords. Of the municipality's six villages the most populous one, is Neskaupstaður, with about 1,400 residents. The attractions are a combination of landscape, history and easy going attitude towards life.

Eyðibyggðir (abandoned settlements), between Eskifjörður and Neskaupstaður, is the hiker's utopia, and those unable to take long walks can sail there on a cabin cruiser. There are innumerable walking trails through the magnificent landscape of this area, whether over mountain passes, through valleys, or along the seashore.

LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.

TERMINAL & TRANSPORT: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

SEEDS organises a “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík & back. Apart from being cheaper and convenient, it allows participants to meet and have a relaxed trip, while stopping on the way for interesting sites.  

The SEEDS minibus will travel one way along the Northern part of the country and the other way it will go along the South coast of Iceland. In this way we will have the opportunity to travel the whole ring road and stop at magnificent natural sights, including waterfalls, glaciers, volcano craters, hot springs, iceberg lagoons, black sand beaches, etc. Departure will be at 7:00 am of July 7th.  Return to Reykjavík in the evening of July 19th.

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

Free access to the local swimming pool and hot tubs, as to the public buses and into the local museums.

Age: 18+