Summer Expedition

Ten members of the TWSMRYT have recently returned from a memorable and exciting exchange with a Search and Rescue Youth Team in Iceland.
The ten day visit started with the group being taken on the 'Golden Circuit' - the main tourist attractions around the Reykjavik area, which takes in the spectacular Gulfoss waterfall, the geysers and the site of the ancient parliament; the evening was spent at Grindavik SAR (search and rescue) base where the group were treated to a ride over the beachside lava fields in the Team's ex NATO all terrain vehicle.

Whilst in Reykjavik the group were shown around ICESAR headquarters, the coastguard helicopter centre and Iceland's oldest rescue team base (a team which boasts two recent Everest climbers).

The next three days were spent at Gufuskalar - the SAR training centre on a remote peninsular on the West coast. Here the group experienced a session on earthquake search and rescue at Europe's premier training resource. The group were then taken into the lava fields to explore some of the cave systems in the area - this area of caves and volcanoes inspired the writing of Journey to the Centre of the Earth and is where the journey is supposed to have begun. The high point was using a crevasse rescue system to lower and recover the group from a deep cavern, which on exploration revealed the skeletal remains of a family of arctic foxes.
Rising to 1500 metres above the training area is the Snaefellsjokull glacier. The group climbed to the top to enjoy the spectacular views below. Some of the group practised their winter skills with crampons and ice axes.

From Gufuskalar the group travelled north to the town of Isafjordur, the hometown of the exchange group.
Typical of many rescue teams in Iceland the Isafjordur team are involved in sea as well as land rescue. The first day was spent trying out the team's zodiacs (inshore rescue boats); some of the time in the boats, but an equal amount of time in the sea - thankfully we were all wearing survival suits, which as many will testify were not quite as waterproof as one might have hoped.
The Isafjordur team run a lifeboat (purchased from the RNLI) - it was this vessel that took us on the first leg of a short overnight expedition. During the two hour sailing to the remote now mainly uninhabited settlement of Grunnavik the group were lucky enough to spot a pair of Minky whales, which was certainly a big high for everyone.



Once landed at Grunnavik the party walked to Flaedaryri, another remote settlement and once the home area of one of our host's grand parents. Here we camped and enjoyed a BBQ on the beach. Everyone in the group was impressed by the size and remoteness of the area. From the campsite the view extended to the end of the fjord and up onto the glacier beyond.
The following morning the lifeboat arrived and the group was picked up and returned to Isafjordur.



Our last day in Iceland was spent on the long drive back to Reykjavik - a last chance to take in the awe-inspiring scenery that is Iceland.
The group had a couple of hours to explore the city of Reykjavik followed by a celebration dinner in one of the cities oldest buildings, which by chance does a very good dinner!

The purpose of the exchange was to give the group the opportunity to learn about rescue techniques used by other teams, but more than that it gave a unique insight into how young people can work together with a common aim - working in search and rescue. In Iceland it is common for young people to belong to search and rescue teams, in fact of the 90 odd teams nearly half encourage involvement of young people from the age of 14. Of the teams in the UK the TWSMRT is we believe unique in having a Youth section.



Thanks go to the Team members at Isafjordur who made us so welcome and worked so hard putting together such a memorable trip.
The exchange programme was made possible by funding from the North Pennines LEADER+ Programme.

To find out more about the TWSMRT Youth Team please look at the main Youth Team Page where you can find more details about joining the Youth Team.

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