Wood chopping championship highlights Iceland's Big Forest Day

Hallormsstaður in Iceland hosted its 19th annual "Big Forest Day," drawing a large crowd to the Mörkin area despite chilly temperatures hovering below 10 degrees Celsius. The event offered a variety of attractions for visitors, including food, entertainment, and family-friendly activities.

Attendees were treated to a range of culinary delights, with options such as whole grilled beef, lamb, sausages, and pan-fried pancakes, all complemented by hot kettle coffee to ward off the cold. Local musicians from the East Fjords provided entertainment, and participants could engage in forest bingo and solve various puzzles.

A frisbee golf competition took place in Guttormslundur, but the main event of the day was the Icelandic Championship in Wood Chopping. Seven competitors vied for the title, which was ultimately claimed by Mates Cieslar. Cieslar, who owns the company Skógarmenn in Akureyri, will now hold onto the traveling trophy for the next year, keeping it in the north of Iceland.

The event successfully combined community gathering with a celebration of the forest and traditional skills, offering a unique experience for all who attended, regardless of the cold weather.