The Volcano Adventures – I Am A Polar Bear

One really simply does not walk into Mordor: swimming in a volcano & getting stranded in a lava field

February 2, 2026

This is a really old adventure that’s had two or three posts over the years but deserves a new write-up and a new place at the very front of this blog rather than being buried in its bowels: the day I swam in an active volcano, got stranded for hours in a lava field and … More One really simply does not walk into Mordor: swimming in a volcano & getting stranded in a lava field

How to visit the Icelandic volcano without annoying ICE-SAR

November 25, 2024

If you haven’t noticed, a new volcanic eruption started on Wednesday night. Honestly, I’m kind of surprised it’s still going – out of the previous nine eruption, three were over in little more than 48 hours and this one lost power very quickly. But it’s still going, and if it stops by the time this … More How to visit the Icelandic volcano without annoying ICE-SAR

Roadside Volcanoes: Grábrók

August 8, 2024

Grábrók is one of my favourite attractions in a country full of incredible things to see and do, and I can’t quite believe I’ve never written about it before. Technically Grábrók is “they”, not “it”. “It” is a little cluster of moss-streaked red craters beside the Ring Road: Stóra Grábrók (Big Grábrók), Litla Grábrók (Little … More Roadside Volcanoes: Grábrók

Volcano special: Sundhnúkagígar

December 19, 2023

Good news: Iceland is having another eruption! Better news: at time of writing, it’s flowing away from major infrastructure like Grindavik, the Blue Lagoon and the Svartsengi geothermal power station! After all the rumblings and theories of the last three months or so, it seems to have popped up in the best possible place of … More Volcano special: Sundhnúkagígar

New video: Expedition to Askja & Viti | iamapolarbear.com

Video: Expedition to Askja & Viti | Iceland vlog 🇮🇸

October 24, 2023

This is my favourite video of the series and I’m so excited that it’s finally out! Day four of my Iceland vlog series sees me on a tour bus at 7.40am to head out into the Desert of Misdeeds to Askja. It’s a shorter day than I expected, only eleven and a half hours, driving … More Video: Expedition to Askja & Viti | Iceland vlog 🇮🇸

New video: Exploring the Krafla geothermal area | iamapolarbear.com

Video: Exploring the Krafla geothermal area | Iceland vlog 🇮🇸

October 17, 2023

In this week’s video, it’s my birthday! I give you a quick tour of Systragil, drive the hour or so to Myvatn, put up my tent at a beautiful lakeside campsite and then head to Myvatn. Hverir, the hot springs area, is my first stop, then I go up to the viewpoint over the Krafla … More Video: Exploring the Krafla geothermal area | Iceland vlog 🇮🇸

A (possible last) visit to Askja

August 24, 2023

I’ve done Askja before. Twice, in fact. In 2013, I went in a huge black jeep and swam in Viti, the warm flooded crater. In 2016, I returned because I wanted to visit Holuhraun. It was a beautiful day but the guide didn’t mention swimming until we reached Viti and I left my swimming stuff … More A (possible last) visit to Askja

They made lava in a theatre! (Lava Show Reykjavik)

March 6, 2023

This is possibly the thing I was most excited about when I went to Iceland: I went to Lava Show Reykjavik. They make lava in a theatre! Lava Show originally opened in Vík, a small town on the south coast where tourists tend to stop for fuel on their drive along the south coast. I … More They made lava in a theatre! (Lava Show Reykjavik)

Tom Scott goes to Meradalir

December 14, 2022

Today was supposed to be about packing for a winter glamping trip, aka what you need to take to survive in an uninsulated tin can in December but then this video popped up in my YouTube subscriptions today. It features Iceland and specifically Meradalir and you know I can’t resist commenting on that kind of … More Tom Scott goes to Meradalir

I did the Pawprint Volcanoes badge | iamapolarbear.com

I did my Pawprint Volcanoes badge!

October 10, 2022

I know, you frequently see “I did [this or that] Rebel Badge but I do other badges as well. I spied that Pawprint Badges had a Volcanoes badge and as they’re big and beautiful and I was going to Iceland, I thought I’d do that one. To be honest, I find Pawprint badges work better … More I did my Pawprint Volcanoes badge!