On September 2, Michigan long distance hiker Eric Moll became the first person to hike the complete IAT UltramaTrex in a single trek across the ultramafic sections of the Bay of Islands Ophiolite Complex from Fox Island River to Trout River. Eric began the 7-day hike with his twin brother Andrew, who had to…

On a beautiful August 16, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol and local adventurers Delano Pittman, Sharon MacDonald Lahey, Ulrica Murley-Pye and Ryan Oxford set off for Cabox on the IATNL Lewis Hills Trail on a mission to find a new hiking route connecting the highest point on the island of Newfoundland to the upper Fox Island…

The IATNL is planning trail enhancement activities for 2016, including on the Humber Valley Trail, Grand Codroy Way, and French Shore Trail near Conche, with volunteers Katie Broadhurst and Alex Fortin channeling girl power. They are seeking adventure-loving low-maintenance volunteers to help on these popular yet under-maintained scenic trails. There is lots to do, but…

On April 8 & 9, IAT North America held its Annual Spring Council Meeting in Mabou, Nova Scotia, a Gaelic speaking region of Cape Breton. The two-day event held at Duncreigan Inn was an opportunity for the U.S. and Canadian chapters to gather to discuss common issues and joint initiatives, as well as provide updates…

On a beautiful Monday morning in early March, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol dusted off his snowshoes for his first winter trek of 2016, on the recently completed IATNL Frenchman’s Head Trail above the small Bay of Islands community of Frenchman’s Cove. It is the newest section of the Hummock Trail, which links the Blow Me…

The 3rd general meeting of Cabox Aspiring Geopark was held Friday, March 4 at Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus in Corner Brook. In addition to updates on the past year’s developments and a review of the upcoming application process, MUN Geologist Andy Kerr gave a special presentation entitled ‘Newfoundland, the Bay of Islands, and the Geological…

On February 22-23, IAT/Cabox Aspiring Geopark Chairperson Paul Wylezol attended the Geological Association of Canada Annual Technical Meeting at the Johnson Geo Centre in St. John’s, where he gave a presentation on the International Appalachian Trail, UNESCO Global Geoparks and Cabox Aspiring Geopark in Western Newfoundland.

In 2014 Appalachian Mountain Explorer Lew Coty from Vermont, U.S.A. returned to Western Newfoundland to hike the Long Range Appalachians, including his first circumtrek of Western Brook Pond in Gros Morne National Park. Having found the terrain “so varied and exciting”, he returned again in 2015 to do it all over again!

The Spring 2016 Issue of Earth Heritage Magazine features their first story on the International Appalachian Trail. Check out the 45th issue of this “geological and landscape conservation magazine” for a detailed update on how far we’ve come and where we’re headed, including Cabox Aspiring Geopark.

The International Appalachian Trail has established a chronicle of geoscience investigators who over many decades of mapping and research contributed to the development of the theory of Plate Tectonics and successfully applied it to the Appalachian/Caledonian terranes, thereby establishing the foundation for the IAT. Newfoundland geologist Harold “Hank” Williams is among the first group of…

On the beautiful fall day of October 4, IATNL executive members Paul Wylezol and Kevin Noseworthy joined True North Charters and Tours’ Tony and Joan Oxford on a scenic excursion around North Arm and the outer Bay of Islands. The goal was to identify significant geosites for Cabox Aspiring Geopark, which will extend from the…

Early on Sept 29, IATNL executive members Paul Wylezol, Kevin Noseworthy and Katie Broadhurst headed to the bottom of North Arm, Bay of Islands to mark a new IATNL trail to the top of the North Arm Hills. The route will serve as both the beginning of a new land route across the hills to…