DANFORTH, Maine — For a few years now, East Grand School Outdoor Education instructors Tammi Matula and Dave Conley have dreamed of one day taking their students to Iceland for backcountry skiing.
Now that dream is about to become a reality.
Three East Grand students — Phoebe Foss, Madeline Cowger and Stephen Rowe along with Conley, Matula and Cowger’s father Mike — will journey to the Nordic island nation for an eight-day trip in late March.
“One of the main reasons for going is to [do] backcountry skiing and snowboarding,” Conley said.
According to Ski.com, backcountry skiing is also called off-piste or out-of-bounds skiing. This type of skiing happens in unmarked, unpatrolled areas beyond the boundaries of the resort. Experience, avalanche knowledge and proper equipment is imperative when backcountry skiing.
Jon Tierney of Acadia Mountain Guides will be overseeing trip logistics including safety and instruction in the backcountry, Conley said.
“For the three skiers in the group, this involves slugging uphill with special backcountry skis equipped with special bindings for going uphill and ski skins that grip the surface when traveling uphill,” Conley explained. “The three snowboards will use ‘split boards’ to do the same, but before the descent, clip the boards back together before descending.”
While in Iceland, the group plans to take in the sights and the unique landscape features including visits to Grabrok Crater, the boiling hot springs in Namaskard, bubbling mug pots and steaming fumaroles.
Another goal of the trip is for students to be introduced to the Icelandic culture with a peer-to-peer visit at a local high school. In preparation of the upcoming trip, students will condition with several up-hill practices locally at Big Rock and in Brackett Basin at Sugarloaf.
While the group has raised most of the funds necessary to go, they remain about $3,000 short of their goal. The school’s hope was for the students to bear little, if any, cost of the trip.
To accomplish this task, the school has held numerous fundraisers in the community. Remaining fundraisers include proceeds from a men’s basketball tournament in March, proceeds from the sale of farm fresh Amish fresh eggs available at Dave’s Hardware, bottles and cans turned into Dave’s Hardware and proceeds from concessions at a couple of upcoming school events.
Those who would like to make a donation to help with the trip, can do so at the Houlton and Danforth Machias Savings Branches. For information about the trip and upcoming basketball tournament, contact Conley at 207-448-2743 or at 207-551-8729.
“Iceland is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world,” Conley said. “Iceland is famous for its geysers and while it might look intimidating, due to its explosive geography, it is a peaceful and laid back place.”
He said more than two-thirds of Iceland’s population lives in the capital Reykjavik. Violent crime is very low and local police do not carry guns. Icelandic is the official language of Iceland and about 98 percent of those in the service industry speak English well enough to make themselves understandable.
“There are more than 30 active volcanic regions scattered across the island,” he said. “The water in Iceland is extremely pure and refreshing and you can drink it from every tap in Iceland. More than 10 percent of the country is covered with glaciers.
“Geothermal swimming pools are located in almost every town,” he continued. “Icelandic animals are not particularly threatening, with no snakes, bears, mosquitoes or poisonous bugs. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are fairly common, but the locals learn from a young age to react appropriately. There are so many waterfalls littered across the country that many of them don’t even have a name.”
