Strive Iceland
Another Strive challenge complete! This one was very different from others for a few reasons:
1) I was sick throughout 90% of it
2) It was a much larger group this time (~45 strivers plus the support team)
3) My Atlanta girls weren’t with me (I missed you Stacy and Sharmila!)
4) I did a trip beforehand leading into it (London was super fun!)
5) I entered the trip in a big sleep debt which left me
But let’s focus on the adventure and Iceland itself!
The country is stunning. The landscape is incredible. It truly is the land of fire and ice as we hiked terrain that had boiling land next to glaciers. It was wild!! We kept saying it felt like the scenery from “A Land before Time” movie with dinosaurs!
Here are some highlights of the trip:
CYCLING
Our first adventure was biking the gravel road which is only available a few months a year due to weather. Our bikes were the best we’ve had on a strive and the scenery was just the beginning of what was to come. The sage green mossy mountains were so colorful! It misted/rained for only at the start but soon cleared up for a nice ride.
We ended at a public campsite with a natural hot spring. Man it was BOILING at some parts and I felt like I was being cooked. Then we have unfortunate plumbing issues at the campsite and all toilets were closed… 👀
HIKING
I unfortunately woke up sick just in time to start our 4 day hike of the iconic Laugavegur Trail which is ranked among the World's Best Hikes by National Geographic. Day 1 was the longest trek but it continued to surprise us with absolutely astonishing ever-changing terrain of Rainbow-hued rhyolite mountains, steaming geothermal valleys, glacial streams, obsidian lava fields, and vast ice caps. I kept changing my clothing as it was sometimes hot then frigid crossing over glaciers and whipping winds.
The second day I had to sit out because I was really ill with an upper respiratory infection and laryngitis. Awful timing! This day was the shortest and I was able to catch a ride to the next camp while seeing the exact terrain i missed by foot so I didn’t miss out on much and was able to rest. At this campsite 2 there was a beautiful canyon I was able to see and take some photos.
Day 3 was the next longest day and I rallied for it and glad I did so! Another day of beautiful landscapes, another frigid river crossing and ending in a lush forest that made me reach out and touch the flowers and flora.
Day 4 I decided to sit out again as the route changed due to weather anyways. I stayed at camp with a few other team members nursing injuries so I wasn’t alone. This marked the end of the hike!
Day 2 Trek: Landmannalaugar to Alftavatn: 21km (13mi) | c.8–9 hrs | +635m / 695m
Day 3 Trek: Alftavatn to Emstrur: 15.8km (9.8mi) | c.6 7 hrs | +249m / 244m
Day 4 Trek: Emstrur to Thorsmork: 20.1km (12.5mi) | c.7–8 hrs | +342m / 644m
Day 5 Trek: Thorsmork to Skogar: 22.8km (14mi) | c.7–8 hrs | +843m / 1,043m
VOLCANO DECENT
This was the reason I signed up for the Strive! I’ve always been fascinated by volcanos (mostly lava) and to be able to go into the belly of one sounded like a once in a lifetime opportunity. It truly is as this is the ONLY dormant volcano you can go into. Most volcanos erupt and the lava and magma fill in the hole, but for some reason this volcano left a huge opening. Inside we could see how the lava dried in a variety of ways, left different colors on the walls. It was cold inside too, around 35 degrees. It was cool but I still want to see active lava!
SNORKELING the SILFRA FISSURE
I didn’t think I would be able to do this excursion with an upper respiratory infection. I didn’t want to put more stress on my body that was already struggling to find health, BUT after listening to the guide’s instruction and learning it was only 30min in the water and that it is the only place in the world to snorkel between two continents, I said YES.
We suited up in dry suits and I was amazed that I didn’t get cold (only my two pointer fingers) and my clothing underneath was completely dry!
The water was about 37 degrees and even my face was fine. The water was clear and no wildlife but thinking through the geology of what I was witnessing was really cool.
DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT
We were honored to have a private discussion and dinner with President Halla Tómasdóttir, a transformational and compassionate leader of the country! She’s an experienced international business leader that took a human-centred approach and brought that intro her presidency. She leads with the heart and believes that inclusion is incredibly important for youth to thrive. I loved how she spoke on hard topics but wove in positivity and uncertainty. She acknowledged things she doesn’t know but is willing to test for a better outcome.
She made a really interesting point that just like the tectonic plates we snorkeled which are moving further apart from each other at a rate of 2cm/year, it’s similar to the world and how we are also becoming more fragmented and disconnected.
She ended with “Girl Power + Geothermal energy = PEACE”. I agree! Why doesn’t the world use Geothermal power?
We all were extremely impressed by Halla and all agreed she needs a bigger stage to shine on.
Strive dinner with President Halla Tómasdóttir
Photo by Adam Slama
Big Change Discussions
The purpose of this adventure is to raise funds for Big Change Charity. This Strive had by far the most impactful speakers and discussions as it relates to AI, Social Media, the Hope Collective and how we can make an impact for youth around the globe. a few powerful speakers to acknowlege:
Gregg Behr - Pittsburgh-based philanthropist and founder of Remake Learning, growing learning ecosystems where neighborhoods, schools, libraries, museums and other sites of learning come together. remakelearning.org. He was such a passionate and beautiful speaker! Remake learning is making learning experiential and hands on which I love to hear! We need more of this!
Dr Kaitlyn Regehr - What an intelligent and powerful speaker bringing to light the importance of governance of AI and Social media. She is working with the government to help put into place regulations on both which will hopefully support and protect our youth. She is working on a second book with the perfect title, “Artificially Intelligent” which discusses how AI is reducing the creativity and effort youth today are putting into their own critical thinking and leaning too heavily on AI to do the work.
Dr Rebecca Winthrop - Another wonderful and impactful educator. I missed much of her discussion as I was ill, but I was able to catch up with Rebecca one-on-one during a hike. She helped guide me with my own son and some ideas to better support him.
The Strive Family
I wasn’t able to get to know everyone like I wanted to and that was a personal disappointment. Having laryngitis and being sick made me sit on the sidelines, lurk on the periphery of conversations without participating, and keeping my distance to I didn’t share my germs.
However, I still met some wonderful new people, became closer to those I’ve met before, and know I am better for this trip. I didn’t have the big punch through to a new level of myself from this strive, but I am grateful for the conversations I had and felt loved and cared for from those who shared medicine with me, made homemade tea for me and for those who opened up to me.
Strive On. Thrive on.
