On June 12, 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!

The International Appalachian Trail Newfoundland & Labrador has taken a page from the IAT Europe playbook with plans to establish a Global Geopark, spanning the Bay of Islands Ophiolites from Lewis Hills to Gros Morne National Park. Other stakeholders include Western DMO, Corner Brook Pulp & Paper Ltd, and all towns in the Bay of Islands and western side of Gros Morne National Park.

On April 10, 2014, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol and IATNL Finance Director Kevin Noseworthy set off on a 16-hour snowmobile/hike duathlon across the North Arm Hills. The purpose of the adventure was to check out the condition of a remote fishing outpost at Stowbridges in North Arm of the Bay of Islands. It will be used as a base for hiking across the North Arm Hills to and from Gros Morne National Park.

In August 2013, Appalachian Explorer Lew Coty of Vermont, U.S.A. returned to Western Newfoundland to continue his exploration of Mount St. Gregory, overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence just north of the outer Bay of Islands. It was the follow-up to his first trek of the mountain in August 2012.

On November 9, 2013, Appalachian long-distance hiker Cotton Joe Norman from North Carolina, U.S.A. became the first person to complete IAT Scotland, from the Mull of Galloway in the south to Cape Wrath in the north. It was the continuation of an 800 mile (1,280 km) journey that began at Slieve League on the west coast of Ireland on September 2.

On a beautiful Saturday, November 16, 2013, McIver’s Mayor Warren Blanchard guided IAT/IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol and IATNL Finance Director Kevin Noseworthy on a 3.7 km (2.2 mile) round trip hike of the new community trail to the top of Bound Head overlooking the scenic outer Bay of Islands.

On November 1-3, 2013, IAT/IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol attended the 8th Northeast Alpine Stewardship Gathering at the Sargent Center in Hancock, New Hampshire. There he learned of the latest developments in northeast North America alpine ecology and gave a presentation on the International Appalachian Trail and Global Geoparks.

On October 31, 2013, IAT/IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol and IAT Maine President Don Hudson met with Appalachian Mountain Club President John Judge at the AMC headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. The purpose of the meeting was to bring John up-to-date on new IAT developments and to discuss ways in which the AMC and IAT can cooperate to promote the Appalachian brand and experience.

On October 30, 2013, IAT/IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol was in Washington, D.C. to meet with officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior to discuss international DOI – IAT cooperation. Of special interest is Morocco, where the DOI is helping to establish a National Park – Toubkal – and the IAT is in the process of forming a new trail chapter.

On September 20, 2013 during the IAT AGM, IAT/IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol joined a small group of walkers who departed Balloch, Scotland and traveled to Maidens on the southwest coast to walk a 6-mile (10-km) section of the Ayrshire Coastal Path (ACP). In addition to strolling sandy beaches and clifftop paths, the group walked the grounds of Culzean Castle and finished at Dunure Castle ruins.

On September 13-14, 2013, IAT/IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol stopped at England’s North York Moors National Park on his way to Balloch, Scotland for the IAT AGM. While there, he met up with Park Ranger and IAT England Director Jay Marrison, visited various points of interest, and walked sections of the IAT Cleveland Way National Trail.

On September 27, 2013 long-distance hiker Cotton Joe Norman from North Carolina became the first walker to complete the recently launched IAT Ireland, from Slieve League to Larne. From there he crosses the Irish Sea to IAT Scotland, where he plans to walk from the Mull of Galloway to Cape Wrath. Cotton Joe volunteered with the IATNL for four summers, from 2006 to 2010.

On September 18-20, the IAT held its first Annual General Meeting in Western Europe, at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Scotland. It was here in 2010 that the West Highland Way, became the first section of the International Appalachian Trail in Europe. The 3-day event included a tribute to Scottish American conservationist John Muir, two half-day treks and the annual meeting.

On September 16, a small delegation from the IAT traveled to Dunbar, Scotland in advance of the 2013 AGM to pay tribute to Scottish American conservationist John Muir. Led by John Muir Birthplace Trust Chairman John Thomas, the group toured the Birthplace Museum, walked a section of the nearby John Muir Way, and visited Siccar Point, made famous by pioneering Scottish geologist James Hutton in the late 18th century.

On August 31, 2013, the IAT welcomed Northern Ireland’s Ulster Way as its newest member and celebrated the completion of the IAT across the emerald isle. The official launch was held at the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh and was attended by IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol, IAT Europe Vice Chair Magne Haugseng, Northern Ireland Environment Minister Mark H. Durkan, and Donegal North-East TD Joe McHugh.

The second installment of the IAT Natural Heritage series is from Beyond Ktaadn’s Eastern Alpine Guide, compiled and written by Mike Jones (IAT North America Alpine Ecologist), Liz Willey, and Marilyn Anions. The Guide can be purchased in Corner Brook at Island Treasures, or on Amazon.com.

On August 20, 2013, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol and Appalachian explorer Lew Coty from Vermont climbed Pyramid Peak on the north side of Lewis Hills between the entrances of Wheeler’s Gulch and Red Rocky Gulch. The 9-hour day trek started at the IATNL Lewis Hills Trail Serpentine trailhead and continued on along the ridge between the two gulches before exiting down Wheeler’s Gulch.

On June 28-29, 2013, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol and IATNL member Ryan Oxford guided a group of Ontario Boy Scouts and their leaders on a two-day trek of the North Arm Hills. The adventure began in Cox’s Cove with a one-hour boat ride by True North Charters & Tours across Middle and North Arms of the Bay of Islands to Stowbridge’s Cove at the base of North Arm Hill.

On June 22, 2013, during the IATNL/Parks Canada Art & Adventure Festival , IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol took advantage of high winds and the cancelled zodiac shuttle on Trout River Pond to make an exploratory trek of the Greater Green Gardens trail between the town of Trout River and Gros Morne National Park’s Green Gardens Trail.

From June 21-22, Parks Canada, IATNL, and Ocean Quest Adventures presented the second annual Art & Adventure Festival in Gros Morne National Park. The 2-day event included a fine art exhibit at the park’s Discovery Center in Woody Point, nightly entertainment, and half-day hikes on the western side of the park.