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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.