Tenerife: 14th - 21st March 2014

Written by Alice

So while Helen was slacking in Rome I was on a proper field trip in Tenerife. This trip involved working 9 hour days in the field and returning to a further 3 hours every night in a huge room summing up everything we had done that day in an evening session.

Tenerife selfie

The location of our first days work

We started the week by flying from Leeds Bradford to Tenerfie south with jet2, which is basically Yorkshire airlines. My southern ears could barely understand the safety announcements. After we landed we drove north to the town of port de la cruz where we were based for the week. The hotel was nice enough even if we were the only people there under the age of 60. Dinner was an all you can eat buffet. Putting this in front of 25 students who are used to living off asda smart price is the most excited you will ever see them. After an evening session, which killed us after our 5am start, the first day of fieldwork was a bit of a shock. We started the week by studying montana negra which is a large cinder cone. There were no toilets all day and lunch was eaten sat on a lava flow. Anyone who has ever sat on a lava flow before know they aren’t exactly the most comfortable seat in the world. Once we got into the day it was very enjoyable. My group was measuring pyroclastic fallout with a spectacular view of Teide. After the evening session tonight we finally made it to the bar which was very welcome.

Montana negra

Teidi selfie with Sarah

On Sunday we did a practical on the beach representing pyroclastic density flow, with wine to colour the water as it is about the cheapest thing you can buy in Tenerife. I managed to get a litre of Smirnoff for 10 euro which made my year. In the afternoon we took a boat trip from Peurto de Santiago to look at the old basaltic series of Teno. During the trip we had pilot wales and Dolphins swimming under the boat as well as being provided with free beer and paella and then being able to jump off the boat for a swim in the sea. That evening we were stuck in Peurto de Santiago for an extra hour or so as a carnival was blocking the only road in and out of the town. You wouldn’t get that in Hull. 

The old Basaltic series of Teno

Pilot whales 

On Monday we headed down to the south of the Island and interpreted pyroclastic deposits in a quarry.  It was a very hot day and being outside all day was a bit of a struggle, but it was still a beautiful landscape. It is now pretty cool to be able to say that I can now identify what type of eruption was occurring simply by looking at a rock face. Tuesday was our day on the black sand beach of port de le cruz carrying out our experiment followed by a quick dip in the pool on the roof of the hotel and then group presentations in the evening, which my group got a first in by the way. Just saying.  

Our experiment on the beach

examining a pyroclastic deposit

On Wednesday it was back out into the field and into the beautiful valleys of Anaga. We were recording GPS data to establish the origins of the river which flowed down the valley. We would then go on that evening to analyse the age of the river terraces and establish whether they are all the same age or from several different time periods, apparently something which hasn’t really been done before. And then it was time for our final day in the field where we were back up in the Caldera. The caldera is really beautiful and a national park and so is patrolled by armed guards. Obviously.

Teide in the clouds

River Terraces in Anaga

The Canadas caldera

On the way down we stopped for the traditional final day la mamba which is basically a hot chocolate with a shot (or 2) of brandy. They make you quite happy. That night was the traditional last night out which consisted of dinner and then a trip to the volcano bar in port de la cruz which sold very nice but very strong cocktails and then on to terrace bar. Everyone had a few drinks (or maybe a few too many) including our lecturers who got quite merry and told us stories about past trips. Apparently a few years ago one of them swam home from Tenerife to Hull last year. The next day there may have been a few soar heads on the flight home. 

La mambas

All tired our from the hard work. Or maybe one two many cocktails