For one week in July, long-distance hiker Geoff Rose of Ontario took on the challenges and rewards of Western Newfoundland’s UltramaTrex, a 6-8 day trek across the ultramafic sections of the four Bay of Islands Ophiolite Massifs, from Tablelands in the north, across the North Arm Hills, Bay of Islands, Blow Me Down Mountains and…

From June 2 to 7, representatives of the International Appalachian Trail (IAT), Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and Appalachian Trail Museum gathered in Ulster Ireland for an Outdoor Economy Forum to discuss common issues and assist IAT Ulster Ireland develop a world-class trail network.

From May 28 to June 2, representatives from IAT Newfoundland and Maine visited Scotland on a 10th anniversary IAT Europe tour which ended in Northern Ireland on June 7 after an Outdoor Economy Forum that also included representatives from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Museum, and Appalachian Mountain Club based in Boston, Mass.

On May 2-3, the International Appalachian Trail held a 25th Anniversary Meeting at Shin Pond Village in Northern Maine. The meeting was attended by IAT North America representatives from Maine, New Brunswick, Quebec and Newfoundland, as well as long-distance hikers Nimblewill Nomad (M.J. “Eb” Eberhart), Mother Nature’s Son (John Calhoun) and Ed Talone.

Cabox Aspiring Geopark’s UltramaTrex long-distance hiking route across the ultramafic sections of the four Bay of Islands Ophiolite Massifs is nearing completion and good to go for the brave of heart! The 145 kilometer (90 mile) trek is divided into 4 stages that can be completed individually, in groups of two (north and south…

Appalachian Hiker Lew Coty from Vermont is one of the most experienced explorers of Western Newfoundland’s backcountry wilderness, having hiked most of the Bay of Islands Ophiolites and Long Range Inlier. One area that stands out for Lew is Bakers Brook Pond, the most inaccessible of Gros Morne National Park’s inland fiords. He…

With the recent installation of Hank Williams’ Tectonic Lithofacies Map of the Appalachian Orogen at the Saltbox Restaurant and Geopark Information Center in Benoit’s Cove, Cabox Geopark has completed Year Two of its 5-year signage strategy. A wide variety of indoor and outdoor signs and interpretive panels have been installed at key locations around…

On December 15, Cabox Aspiring Geopark, a project of the IATNL, commemorated the 40th Anniversary of the Tectonic Lithofacies Map of the Appalachian Orogen. The map was compiled by renowned Newfoundland Geologist Harold “Hank” Williams, with assistance from his graduate student Jim Hibbard who continued to update and digitize the map at North Carolina State…

On October 26, Cabox Geopark and the soon to be Saltbox Restaurant in Benoit’s Cove launched the first Cabox Geopark Information Center. Located approximately halfway along Route 450 on the south side of the Bay of Islands, the center will provide natural heritage and outdoor adventure information to both residents and tourists.

On the morning of June 23, IATNL members Ulrica Murley Pye, Sharon MacDonald Lahey, Delano Pittman and Paul Wylezol set off up Winterhouse Gulch on the northeast side of the Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park on a mission to identify and gps track the route for Stage One of the 4-stage UltramaTrex, a 7-9…

On February 25, representatives of the IATNL and OBIEC traveled to Iceland to attend the final meeting of the 3-year EU funded Drifting Apart project. Paul Wylezol and Arne Helgeland were joined by Alan Shepherd at the 2-day meeting held just outside of Reykjavik. They were representing Cabox Aspiring Geopark spanning the…

On Saturday, September 30, the IAT held its annual North America Council Meeting at Joggins Fossil Centre, Nova Scotia, part of Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site. The meeting included chapter updates, website and social media, mapping, international gatherings, and fundraising. The gathering began the night before with dinner and refreshments at the Pump…