The traditional rafting bus, destination: Deathproof
Water is what Iceland does best, and to get under the skin of this country, you really do have to get wet. From glacial waterfalls that freeze the blood, to geothermal pools that warm the feet from the centre of the earth, there are endless opportunities to dip a toe or dive right in. So when we had the chance to go white water rafting with Arctic Rafting, we didn’t think twice…
No getting away from glaciers
It’s hard to get away from glacial flows in Iceland. In less than a week I’ve been around one (cycling round the Lagarfljot), I’ve crossed one (in a jeep en-route to swim in a volcanic crater), and now I’m about to go on (but hopefully not in) one. My idea of rafting is to look cool without getting wet, although I’m sure the kids have another plan.
The chill begins in the rafting base
Everything about Arctic Rafting is cool; from their hangout rafting base in the Skagafjörður valley, with its table football, comfy sofas, help yourself coffee and whitewater videos, to the young, personable guides who populate it. As soon as you walk in the door you can feel the vibe (check out the video). And before you even pick up a paddle a torrent of enthusiasm tells you you’re in for a good time.
“This place is shaped in the spirit of rafting,” agrees General Manager Chris Doyle-Kelly as he gathers everyone together for a coffee and a briefing.
“Better than rafting in Colorado” … message on the Arctic Rafting visitor board
Arctic Rafting’s Hafgrímsstaðir Rafting Base in Skagafjörður
All this just to get wet
Before the fun, the necessary faff. Safety instructions, talk on clothing and gear, suits with much rubber involved, helmets, booties, life jackets. And all this just to get wet. Because getting wet is inevitable. In this game it’s you against the river; and the river is way bigger than you and has been around for longer.
“We call this a dry suit but we don’t really mean it. I can already tell most of you are going to be swimming and splashing,” says Chris, as he hands out kit to thirty nervous would-be rafters.
“It was cold and I leaked but it doesn’t matter.” … comment on visitor’s board
The bus is loaded ready to go rafting…
Made for rafting
Iceland seems made for white water rafting. Whether fed by glacier or spring water, rivers here are the real deal. At Arctic Rafting’s northern base in Hafgrimsstadir, you get the option of two white water courses; the West Glacial River (Vestari-Jökulsá) and it’s sister course; fondly known as the Beast Of The East. Which you do depends on your age and amount of bottle.
“The East Glacial River (Austari-Jökulsá) is getting a reputation for being one of the best rivers in Europe,” says Chris, as we make our way down in the rafting bus to the start of the West. The kids’ ages and my wimp factor preclude us from taking the other path.
“One of the highlights of my trip, even though I took an extended swim in the river all by my lonesome.” ….comment on visitor’s board.
Up at the riverside, the boys make final adjustments to their dry suits
On the East course you have to be mentally prepared to hit the water. Because it’s likely. On the West, the choice is yours about whether you go in, although Chris says there’s usually one who takes an accidental tumble. “It’s often just a question of who!”
“Turned around and my wife was gone!” ….comment on visitor’s board.
Setting off down the Vestari-Jökulsá, North Iceland
Am I ‘the one’?
The course passes through a spectacular gorge, where sharp rocks provide the fear of a bashing at every curve and rushing water continually sprays the boat and all who raft in her. With one eye on Hannah who is gamely sitting on the edge of the boat with a paddle almost twice her height, I paddle and splash and do a rafting high five and know I’m probably going to be ‘the one.’
“So epic I chipped my tooth.” ….comment on visitor’s board.
The boys take charge at the front as we descend the Vestari-Jökulsá
But in the end it doesn’t matter, as everyone goes in by choice. First of all it’s via a Geronimo style jump from a high rock. When you’ve got your bearings and put yourself the right way up, a mad doggy paddle helps you beat the current and meet the others back at the bank. Later most people jump in again to swim in the freezing water; where the real challenge is not trying to stay warm but trying to haul yourself or your rafting partners back on board. With the ease of someone who has done it before, Chris swipes a hostage from another boat, and they capture him back again with more splashing than seems really necessary from my corner of the raft!
Riverside refreshment
Part way down the river we make a stop for refreshments. There’s no cafe, Starbucks or picnic. But there is a geothermal river, chocolate powder and cups, everything you need for a perfect riverside hot chocolate. It’s a surprising moment and I just know that we won’t be able to pass by a hot river again.
“The fun is on the other side of fear.” ….comment on visitor’s board.
Hot Drinks by the Vestari-Jökulsá, North Iceland
The river runs out too soon and we’re left wanting more (check out the video). More fun, more fear, a bigger, more untamed beast. But to get anywhere near that course, Hannah will need to get past her baby teeth and primary school as the minimum age is 18.
Arctic Adventures, the parent company of Arctic Rafting, offers other high adrenaline ways to get to know the country, and in a couple of weeks we will go glacier hiking on the south of the island. But today I feel we’ve edged one step further towards bonding with Iceland, in those brief few hours paddling about in her icy depths.
Hot Drinks by the Vestari-Jökulsá, North Iceland
This post is part of our 2012 Adventure Islands Season. We’re spending summer 2012 crossing Northern Europe by car and ferry to visit Iceland and The Faroes. We’re exploring the wilder parts of these adventure islands on mini biking expeditions, and researching and reporting on other attractions and activities on offer to adventure seeking families as we tour other parts of the islands by car. We’re grateful to DFDS Seaways and Smyril Line for their support in getting us and our vehicle to Europe and onto Iceland and The Faroes, enabling us to bring you this season of posts. And to Berghaus and Thule who have helped equip us for the journey. Thanks also to Dagny at Arctic Adventures and Chris and the crew at Arctic Rafting Northern base for helping us to bring you this story.
You can follow our progress LIVE on The Family Adventure Project Punkt and get some exclusive behind the scenes photos and video of our journey.
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