Sept. 3, 2010 I The Clarion
News
Page 3
BC group explores geologic wonders of Iceland
Six Brevard College students recently joined Associate Professor
of Geology Jim Reynolds on an 18-day, camping field trip throughout
Iceland.
The July trip included recent BC graduate Hunter Boyd of Hickory;
senior Chelsea Shew of Hendersonville; senior Billy Swords of At
lanta; sophomore Mary Kathryn Webb of Tyler, Texas; sophomore
Mark Migliore of Jacksonville, Fla.; and incoming freshman Elena
Reynolds of Webster
Coimestee Falls resident Lee McMiim also joined the group that
included 14 other college students, faculty members and interested
volcanophiles from around the world, including participants from
Australia, Germany and Canada.
“Iceland was a nonstop adventure where I met people that I will never
forget, experienced their amazing culture, and walked on geological
features that have built Iceland into the active island it is today,” said
Shew, a general science major, who is also completing her teacher
certification. “Every day was something new to be amazed about.”
Swords, a general science major who is also working towards his
teacher certification, was equally impressed with the island’s offerings,
especially its “wonderfully effective geothermal energy system, along
with kind, strong and intelhgent people.”
During the trip, the group visited a geothermal power plant near
the capital, Reykjavik, as well the fjords of western and northwestern
Iceland. They also traveled to Myvatn—in northeastern Iceland—^where
they explored volcanoes around the large lake, a large geothermal area,
Krafia caldera and Dettifoss, Iceland’s largest waterfall.
While travehng to south Iceland, the group crossed the Sprengisan-
dur—also known as the Central Iceland Desert—^passing close to the
Vatnajokull, the world’s third largest icecap. They also visited the
hot springs and orange mountains of Landmaimalaugar.
While based out of Kirkjubsjarklaustar, the group explored the
rifts at Eldgja and Lakagigar—where the two largest eruptions in
recorded history took place. They also visited JokulsMon, a coastal
lagoon that traps hundreds of icebergs that calved off of the Vatna
jokull.
The final adventure was an overnight trip to the island of Hei-
maey—^where, in 1973, the Eldfell volcano grew in the town and
buried a neighborhood.
“I’m very fortunate to have the opportunities to take students to
places like Iceland where they can get a sense of Earth in formation,”
Reynolds said. “The only disappointment was that Eyjafjallajokull
stopped empting by the time we arrived. We were able to go right
to its base and collect some ash but it would have been icing on the
cake to see an actual eruption.”
Reynolds, who has taught at Brevard College since 1999, leads
international geological field trips on a regular basis. In the past,
Brevard College students have traveled with him to Egypt, Italy,
Greece, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Costa
Rica. He is in the prehminary stages of organizing trips to Costa Rica
and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador for the upcoming year.
To read a travel log and view photos and videos from the group's
adventure in Iceland, go to www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/
magellanic/4/tpod. html
Cycling
from page 1
In the Men’s A 4X event, Bagnal took
10th and Chaput took 16th.
In the Men’s B 4X event, Blackmore
took 5th, and freshman Heath Wilson took
I2th.
In the Women’s A 4X, senior Kate
Weisenfiuh took 3rd, and senior Carohne
Decosimo took 4th.
The Men’s A XC event is where the Tor
nados really excelled, taking three spots in
the top ten with Cowie winning by nearly
two minutes, Hoffner taking 5th, and Gaff
ney taking 9th.
In the Women’s A XC, senior Caroline
Decosimo took 4th.
Brevard is now ranked second in the
SECCC Division 2 team standings, traihng
Union College by only one point.
(Left to Right) Brevard College sophomore Mary Kathryn Webb; senior Billy Swords; senior Chelsea
Shew; Associate Professor of Geology Jim Reynolds; incoming freshman Elena Reynolds; and
sophomore Mark Migliore pose in front of the Skaftafellsjbkull glacier in Iceland’s Vatnajokull National
Park.
Mountain Cycling Team Schedule:
Sept. 11-12, Lees-McRae College
Sept. 18-19, University of Florida
Sept. 25-26, Clemson University
(Conference Downhill-only)
Oct. 2-3, Georgia Tech (Conference)
Oct. 15-17, Nevada (Nationals)