The UltramaTrex is approximately 145 kilometers (90 miles) in length and is divided into four stages, one for each of the four ophiolites.\u00a0 \u00a0The stages can be completed individually, in pairs (northern and southern), or together as a single trek.\u00a0 In total, the UltramaTrex requires 6 – 8 days to complete.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Stage One –\u00a0Table Mountain Massif<\/a><\/span> – is approximately 18 kilometers (10.8 miles) in length and can be completed in approximately 9 hours, 9.5 hours to the Trout River Pond campground.\u00a0 \u00a0From the start at 150 meters (492 feet) above sea level at the entrance to the forked “gulch” west of Winterhouse Brook, the trek climbs up through the west branch of an ultramafic canyon composed primarily of oxidized peridotite from the earth’s mantle that was carried to the surface by tectonic forces during the closing of the Iapetus Ocean approximately 450 million years ago.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n At 400 meters (1,312ft), hikers are rewarded with a nice panoramic view north through the gulch and south along its west wall to a 30 meter (100ft) waterfalls that spills out of the upper valley<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n where at 480 meters (1,575ft) the steeper incline levels off and a series of crystal-clear waterfalls provides hikers with a good opportunity for a cool dip on a hot summer day.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The upper valley is composed almost exclusively of peridotite, with little patches of grass and moss and the occasional wildflower taking advantage of every opportunity<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n A short climb west out of the valley leads to big sky country and expansive peridotite barrens<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n followed by a 2km gradual descent to Moho Ridge, where rust-colored periditote from the earth’s mantle collides with light-gray gabbro from the ocean floor above, in a geological pas de deux<\/em> nearly 500 million years old.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Moho, or<\/strong> Mohorovi\u010di\u0107 discontinuity<\/em>, is the boundary between earth’s crust and mantle and is defined by the distinct change in velocity of seismic waves as they pass through changing densities of rock.\u00a0 It is typically found 5 to 10 kilometres (3\u20136 miles) below the ocean floor, and 20 to 90 kilometres (10\u201360 mi) beneath continental crusts, and is identified on earth’s surface by alternating bands of peridotite and gabbro.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n From Moho Ridge, hikers must traverse a 1km-wide valley to the back end of Fox Point Gulch.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n View back towards Moho Ridge<\/p><\/div>\n Before descending into the gulch via a gap in the canyon wall, a 1km round trip trek up a 50m-high slope provides a spectacular view south through the gulch toward Elephant Head, overlooking the narrows between Trout River inner and outer ponds.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The descent to the canyon floor is down a short scree field in a narrow gully<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 \u00a0Immediately at left is a 130m (400ft) impassable waterfalls that drains the plateau and remaining winter snow and ice that can fill the shady depressions until mid summer.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n From here it’s an easy 2 km stroll out of the gulch, past a winding cascade that turns east and empties into Trout River Pond.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n After crossing the shallow stream, it is now just an easy 7 km (4 mile) stroll along a park trail to the wharf at the end of the pond.\u00a0 Another 2 kms on gravel road will take hikers to an ideal campground within striking distance of the Elephant.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Stage Two – North Arm Ophiolite<\/a><\/span> – is the longest stage of the UltramaTrex at approximately 49km (29.5 miles) and can be completed in 2 to 3 days, depending on month and fitness.\u00a0 \u00a0From the start at 30 meters (98 feet) elevation near Trout River Pond campground, the route follows an ATV trail for approx 5 kilometers (3 miles) before climbing up the side of the Elephant to a height of 400 meters (1,310 feet).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The plateau on top of the Elephant’s Head provides fantastic views of Table Mountain Massif (i.e., the Tablelands) and Trout River Pond, all the way to the town of Trout River on the gulf coast.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n East of the Elephant Head, the trek along the south rim of Trout River fiord weaves and bobs around various small ponds and patches of tuck and scrub<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n while stopping here and there to take in another view of the ridges and canyons of Table Mountain.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Near the end of the fiord, the route turns south and follows a series of mountaintop valleys that drain a number of large lakes, ponds and wetlands.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n This is some of the most remote backcountry in Western Newfoundland, where it is much more likely to encounter a moose, caribou, arctic hare or black bear than a two-legged backpacker.\u00a0 But have no fear, like other friendly Newfoundlanders, the black bears and coywolfs here are quite harmless and more likely to run off in the opposite direction than approach with curiosity.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n After 13 or 14 kilometers of this sub-arctic landscape, hikers once again encounter the Mars-like ultramafic mantle of the Bay of Islands Ophiolite<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n which is essentially devoid of trees and bushes but occasionally blanketed by large sections of wild grasslands perforated by small wetland ponds<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n or bisected by single file caribou trails<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n that wind their way around or down through the many gullies and ledges along the southeastern edge of North Arm Massif.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Before long hikers will traverse a rocky peridotite plateau that rises to 650 meters (2,130 feet)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n followed by spectacular views of North Arm and the outer Bay of Islands to the south and west<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n and Stowbridges Gulch to the north.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n After descending a long slope to the west and walking a short distance around shore, <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n hikers will find an IATNL basecamp where they can arrange a night’s accommodation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n From the basecamp at Stowbridges, North Arm, it is necessary to take a boat ride – dory or zodiac – across the Bay of Islands to Benoit’s Cove in Humber Arm, or to Cox’s Cove in Middle Arm, then take ground transportation around the Humber Arm to Benoit’s Cove.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n After crossing the Bay of Islands by boat (an approx one hour ride), Stage Three – Blow Me Down Massif<\/a><\/span> – starts at sea level from the Cabox Information Center at Saltbox Restaurant in Benoit’s Cove.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The 34 kilometer (20.5 mile) trek to the western end of Serpentine Lake begins with a 3km hike up a gravel forestry access road, followed by a 1km walk down the town’s water supply road, <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n an ankle-to-knee-deep ford of Clark’s Brook, <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n then a 1.5km trek up a rough excavator track to the base of the Blow Me Down Mountains.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n From there the route winds its way up a small peridotite valley with a nice cross-sectional view of the mountains and Humber Arm<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n until it reaches a series of small ponds at top.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n At this point the route turns north and follows the eastern edge of the mountains until it reaches the eastern flank of Charlie’s Bottom, which provides a panoramic view extending to the entrance of Blow Me Down Brook Gulch and the outer Bay of Islands beyond.\u00a0 In early summer, it is not unusual to see large patches of snow filling in the northeast depressions along the edge of the mountains.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n After descending to the brook running down Charlie’s Bottom, hikers can take a short detour to a series of cascades, an ideal spot for a midday lunch or to cool off on a hot summer day after the snows have melted.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Once under way again, hikers must climb 200m (650ft) higher to the top of Charlie Bottom’s western flank, then after another 1km walk will be rewarded with a dramatic view of Blow Me Down Brook gulch, falls and south branch.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/caboxgeopark.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/UltramaTrex-2.jpg\")
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