Day 1

So all packed and ready to go!


Have to laugh - went to get my money changed - just taking £120 the lady said! 'Yes' can I exchange it back on my return - the lady laughed you won't have much to exchange from Iceland - well I am only walking!!!!!!!

For my two little girls - well not so little now - Sezzbag being 20 and Leannie Babe 17. (Sarah and Leanne) They will kill me for publishing this on the net! What are mum's for if you can't embarrass them from time to time - I have had to put up with a few!




Well day one will take me from my home in Kent, into London where I am set to meet my fellow trekkers at the airport before boarding the flight to Keflavik International Airport, for my challenge!

This being my first challenge, well my second in fact as I have never been to Heathrow! I am not joking!

So my thermals packed, walking boots and good blister plasters as I am sure I will have a few. My journey begins - how will I deal without my laptop, mobile phone (Heaven in itself)



Weather forecast for today is 13C Daytime - 10C night time with 86% chance of Rain - Oh joy!
Sunrise is at 5.20am and Sunset at 21.43pm

Day 2

After an early breakfast we will have a detailed brief before heading to Mt Hekla. I will spend the day trekking around the volcano areas to discover the lava flows resulting from the last eruptions, which took place. I will then head towards our first camp at (590m)

I will need to ensure I have a photo for my daughter - Happy 18th Birthday my little Leannie Babe - Mum loves you! So you party it up (being careful of course), and be ready for our night at the clubs when I return. Missing her birthday has cost me a few extra pounds!





Weather forecast is - 94% chance of rain! 11C Daytime and 9C at night. Sunrise will be at 5.23am - Sunset at 9.39pm.

Day 3

I will leave from Landmannahellir with great views of the nearby moberg, or table mountain of Lodmundur, which was formed in a volcanic eruption beneath an earlier icecap. The lakes and lava-fields of Domadalshraun dominate the beautiful route. I will follw to the multicoloured mountains of Landmannalaugar. I will trek over grassy meadows, pass between rocky peaks, and views over the lava which flowed down the mountain in 1480 (a few years ago - thank god!) It is interesting to see the difference between this lava, and that from Mount Hekla, and I will see the effect that 500 years of climatic erosion and plant colonisations has upon the rock.

I will finish the day with a little soak int the hot springs ready for the hardest day of the trek to come in the morning.

Day 4

Possibly the toughest day of the trip, I will now enter a remote and potentially hostile part of the route (Oh joy) For safety reasons - this sounds good! I must walk as part of the group and follow the guides instructions. From Landmannalaugar we will move on the Hrafntinnusker plateau at 800m. Walking up between the bizzarre, seemingly unnatural rock structures of the Brennisteinsalda lava flow, we come across an area of the geothermal activity in the form of streaming vents and hot springs. The smell of sulphur is strong in the air, and the rock is richly coloured with mineral deposits brought up from the depths of the Earth.

I climb for most of the morning and may even cross snowfields left over from the long Icelandic winter. I will reach the mountain hut at Sodull then the descent begins, heading south over the rolling ridges of solidified lava before dropping steeply down the Alftavatn valley - the views are tremendous. Exhausted from a full day's trek I will rest and make camp on the shore of Alftavatn Lake (537m)

Day 5

An early rise today as I trek across the predominantly flat area along the northwest region of the mightly Myrdalsjokull glacier towards Hattafell. I then will wade the icy stream that skirts the camp and after a few small climbs and descents through meandering gullies, I head out onto a sterile dusty volcanic plain.

I will then locate the road for a short distance before cutting off and heading between the small peaks of Utigonguhofdar. The final part of the day sees us skirting beautifully coloured volcanoes before dropping int our campsite at Botnar (500m)

Day 6

Starting with breakfast in our tents and set off early for Portsmork, Thor's Wood. I will continue my trek along the Markarfjot's canyon, down into the valley and then climbing back out of them (This one might be a challenge - I think!) I will continue down to the Portmork glacial valley and see some stunning views along the way of the three separate glaciers:Myrdalsjokull, Eyjafjallajokull and Tindfjallajokull. My challenge is for you to say these!

My feet are in a for a slight shock of the cold as I ford the icy Pronga River (I might need some themals here) I then have a last push up and over Thor's Wood iteself before dropping down to the grassy slopes of Langidalar (267m)

Day 7

On my final day of trekking I will hike my way out of the Portsmork Valley along the Krossa River. I am sure to see some spectacular and the hidden valley along my journey. I will finish the hike at a glacial moraine below a solitary finger of the mighty Eyjafjallajokull glacier. I will cross the glacial meltwater river where I have a group photo and enjoy the journey back to Reykjavik for our celebrational evening.
So A year ago I pledged to take this trek - in that time I have been on a journey myself - cutting all my hair off - getting fit - finding myself.

The Loughrey family lost their beautiful daughter Emily to cancer at the young age of 22. They have raised over £45,000 so far - I have pledged to raise £2500 for the Embo Trust (ClicSargent) so help me raise the final £350 today - www.justgiving.com/paulaknight19

Events: Lands End to John O'Groats 02-12 June 2008 -10km run, 5km run and so much more.