On March 29, 2015, the day after participating in the official launch of IAT Portugal at Naturtejo Geopark, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol and IAT Spain President Ruth Hernandez crossed the Ebro River into Extremadura to take a three day tour of IAT Spain. From there they traveled a short distance to Alcántara, where the world’s largest Roman bridge at 194m long and 71m high, crosses the Tagus River at the eastern end of the 25,088 hectare Tagus International Nature Park. Alcántara is derived from the Arabic word al-QanTarah, meaning “the bridge”.
1000 People Attend IAT Portugal Launch in Naturtejo Geopark
On a sunny and warm Saturday, March 28, 2015, approximately one thousand people gathered in Naturtejo Geopark, Portugal to officially launch GR38 – Grande Roto Do Muradal-Pangeia as the newest section of the Trilho Internacional dos Apalaches. Joining the crowd were Geopark President Armindo Jacinto, Oleiros Municipal President Fernando Marques Jorge, Turismo Centro Portugal President Pedro Machado, Naturtejo Geopark Geologist and IAT Portugal President Carlos Carvalho, Canadian Counsellor and Consul David Marion, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol and IAT Spain President Ruth Hernandez.
Second Cabox Global Geopark Public Meeting
On February 10, 2015, the Cabox Global Geopark initiative spanning the Bay of Islands Ophiolites from Lewis Hills to Tablelands held its second public meeting at the Grenfell Campus of Memorial University in Corner Brook. Special guest speakers included Alana Hinchey, Senior Geologist with the Newfoundland & Labrador Geological Survey and Mike Jones, President of Beyond Ktaadn and co-author of the recently published Eastern Alpine Guide.
IATNL Trek Listed #1 by Explore Magazine
The newest route of the International Appalachian Trail Newfoundland & Labrador (IATNL) has recently been listed #1 of 4 Amazing Adventure Travel Trips by Explore Magazine. The route extends from Trout River in Gros Morne National Park to James Cook’s Stone Brook in the beautiful Bay of Islands, and is included in the planned Cabox Global Geopark.
North Arm Traverse Makes Top 16 for 2015
Explore Magazine’s Fall 2014 edition recently named the IATNL’s 2015 North Arm Traverse from Trout River in Gros Morne National Park to Back Cove in North Arm, Bay of Islands as one of its Top 16 Amazing Trips for 2015. The 3-day/2-night guided trek will cross some of the most scenic and pristine landscapes in Newfoundland, and will be one of “the most interesting and exciting expeditions in Canada and beyond.” The goal is to find the last leg of a backcountry mountain hiking route connecting Gros Morne National Park to North Arm Ophiolite, with spectacular views (e.g. the Tablelands)and alpine wilderness (including moose and caribou) along every stretch of the way.
Restoration Begins on Back Cove Base Camp
Early on October 22, 2014, the IATNL’s Arne Helgeland, Kevin Noseworthy and Paul Wylezol set off in boat from Cox’s Cove in Middle Arm, Bay of Islands for Back Cove in North Arm. With them were new windows, assorted lumber and miscellaneous building supplies needed to start restoration of a 50+ year old fishing house now hiking camp at the base of the North Arm Hills, a location central to the planned Cabox Global Geopark spanning the four Bay of Islands Ophiolites from Lewis Hills to Tablelands.
6th International Global Geopark Conference
On September 19-22, 2014, IAT/IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol attended the 6th International UNESCO Conference on Global Geoparks hosted by Stonehammer Geopark in Saint John, New Brunswick. He was there learning about the Global Geopark network, promoting the proposed Cabox Global Geopark in Western Newfoundland, and meeting representatives from Geoparks along the IAT route. The International Appalachian Trail crosses 10 Geoparks in 6 countries in Western Europe and will likely soon cross a number of Geoparks in Eastern Canada.
IAT Attends Conjugate Margins Conference
From August 20-22, 2014, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol attended the 4th Conjugate Margins Conference in St. John’s, NL and presented a trio of posters on the IAT, IAT Geoparks and the planned Cabox Geopark in Western Newfoundland. The Conference started in 2008 to bring industry and academia together to discuss the similarities of basis evolution in conjugate margins. It originally focused on the margins of the North Atlantic but has grown into a major international conference with presentations and posters with key industry players and academic researchers.
In Search of a Walking Route to Stowbridges
On June 23, 2014, IAT/IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol and IATNL executive member Delano Pittman took advantage of a beautiful early summer day to head into North Arm of the Bay of Islands to look for an overland route to the IAT hiking camp at Stowbridges, within the boundary of the proposed Cabox Global Geopark spanning the four Bay of Islands Ophiolites. After an hour’s hike down a valley off Goose Arm logging road where they discovered an ATV trail leading to a remote cabin at the bottom (i.e., inside end) of North Arm, they walked the gravel beach until they reached North Arm Brook.
Simms Gulch Trek with BGS’s Hugh Barron
On June 12, 2014, IATNL executive members Paul Wylezol, Arne Helgeland and Kevin Noseworthy took Hugh Barron, Marketing Sector Manager with the British Geological Survey in Edinburgh, Scotland, on a day-hike into Simms Gulch on the north side of Serpentine Valley. The 24 km (15 mile) trek was under ideal conditions, including clear blue skies, good visibility, mid-teens temperatures, and few black flies and mosquitos!