In July IATNL Trail Director Arne Helgeland and Treasurer Kevin Noseworthy made a trail blazing trek to Simms Falls, the first step in the development of a southern access to Blow-Me-Down Mountain Trail. From Simms Falls the trail will wind its way through Simms Gulch and onto the top of the mountains.

During the last week of July 12 intrepid adventurers, including 5 IATNL executive members, left Five Mile Road on the first IATNL Flat Hills to Parsons Pond trek. The recently completed southern access trail off the Flat Hills makes this new scenic route possible. The two-day hike was followed by a half-hour boat…

In late July IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol flew in over the mountains east of Parsons Pond with Devil’s Bite Trail crew members Curtis Payne, Trent Foster, Caroline Swan and Troy Gaulton to complete an important section of trail above East Brook Gulch. After a cloud-shrouded start, the weather cooperated nicely for 2 days, allowing…

On July 24 IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol took advantage of an ideal summer day to take Ontario resident David Slade and his nephew Sam on an afternoon trek to 660m (2,000ft) Cape Blow-Me-Down on the Copper Mine To Cape Trail in the beautiful Bay of Islands.

In early July IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol and volunteers Troy Gaulton, Curtis Payne and Trent Foster travelled by boat to Middle Brook, Parsons Pond where they hiked to Little East Brook (just north of East Brook Gulch) to complete the last remaining section of the Parsons Pond to Flat Hills access trail.

From June 30 to July 2 IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol and volunteers Troy Gaulton and Caroline Swan made a 3-day trek into the Lewis Hills to survey the northern end of the IATNL’s Lewis Hills Trail. The 60 kilometer (36 mile) “Canada Day Trek” was under ideal conditions, with clear blue skies, dry barrens,…

On Tuesday, June 9 IAT representatives Paul Wylezol and Kevin Noseworthy travelled to Holyhead, Wales for the last leg of the IAT UK-Ireland 2009 Tour. They were met by Adrian Humpage of the British Geological Survey, and representatives of GeoMon Geopark and the Isle of Anglesey.

From Northern Ireland the IAT delegation of Paul Wylezol, Kevin Noseworthy and Earl Raymond travelled to Dublin, capital of the Irish Republic, for more hiking, meeting and sightseeing. The visit started with a trek into the Dublin Mountains and a short walk on sections of the Wicklow Way.

After the IAT visit to Scotland, the IATNL contingent of Paul Wylezol and Kevin Noseworthy and IAT Maine representative Earl Raymond travelled to Northern Ireland for 2 days of meetings and touring. Again the weather was cooperative and our hosts were knowledgeable, entertaining and great ambassadors of the north.

The IAT visit to the UK and Ireland got off to a great start this past week. The first leg of the trip began in Scotland with a meeting with Scottish Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham, followed by a trek to the summit of Ben Nevis and a public meeting on the creation of an IAT