AMC ADVENTURE TRAVEL Volunteer-Led Excursions Worldwide Newfoundland – Hike and Explore the East Coast Trail June 18 - 28, 2022 Trip #2248 Cape Spear, Newfoundland (photo from Wikipedia), Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Trip Overview Are you looking for a hiking adventure that combines experiencing spectacular coastal trails, lighthouses, sea spouts, a boat tour with bird sightings, and potential whales and iceberg viewing? Or enjoy a morning kayaking around a bay? Sounds exciting, then come join us on our Newfoundland Adventure to hike parts of the East Coast Trail, explore and enjoy the spectacular views from the most eastern point of North America. Birds love Newfoundland and we will have the opportunity to see many. Newfoundland is known as the Seabird Capital of North America and Witless Bay Reserve boasts the largest colony of the Atlantic Puffin. Other birds we may see are: Leach’s Storm Petrels, Common Murre, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, and Black-legged Kittiwake, to name a few. Newfoundland is one of the most spectacular places on Earth to watch whales. The world’s largest population of Humpback whales returns each year along the coast of Newfoundland and an additional 21 species of whales and dolphins visit the area. We will have potential to see; Minke, Sperm, Pothead, Blue, and Orca whales. Additionally we will learn about its history, enjoy fresh seafood and walk around the capital St. John’s. This will be an Adventure that is not too far from our northern border. It’s almost in our backyard. We will be staying close to the ocean, so day hiking, eating and sleeping with the fresh salt air will wash away any hiking aches and relax you each night. Our accommodations for the first nine days will be cozy guesthouses, shared rooms and baths. A typical day will be; transportation to the trailhead after breakfast, bag lunch on the trail, and after being picked up after the hike, a local home cooked meal at the guesthouse. Regional Map of East Coast of Newfoundland Trip Difficulty This entire trip is rated per the AMC Rating scale of Moderate (#4) to Vigorous (#5) for this coastal trail trekking experience. It will consist of 6 hiking days interspersed with two rest days. Participants should be capable of hiking 5 – 7 hours a day (including breaks) and typically 7 to 9 miles (but two days approximately 11 miles), on rocky trails with ups and downs (not mountain ups but elevation changes from 0 to 300/400 ft. Some parts of the trails will have coastal cliff exposure, rocks and potentially be muddy with a few streams and brook crossings. Even though this is coastal trek, it is recommended that participants begin a conditioning regimen a month or two prior to the trek. Reference AMC trip activities rating link: https://www.outdoors.org/outdoor-activities/difficulty-ratings Daily Itinerary. International trip: Leave the USA on June 18 or earlier to arrive in St. John’s (YYT) on Day 1. Day 1 - June 18 Arrive in St. John’s (YYT) airport, Newfoundland. Meet at a designated meeting point in the airport for private transport to our Guesthouse in Pouch Cove. We will have a group meeting in the afternoon or evening, and if time allows we will explore Pouch Cove. Guesthouse – Part of the group in Points East, the rest of the group in a nearby home Meals: (D) Day 2 – June 19 - Hike Pouch Cove to Cape Francis on the East Coast Trail Hike Pouch Cove to Cape Francis on the ECT (#16 in Hikes Guidebook* pg. 46-47), AMC Rated Easy (3) Start at the Waterwitch Trailhead (to be confirmed), 7.3 km (4.54 miles), maybe add a short loop out to Cape Francis lighthouse, "trail is fairly hilly” with several small brooks and streams to cross. Highlights: coastal views from Big Bald Head and Freshwater. Elevation range 20-123 meters (65-404 ft.) Guesthouse: Points East Meals: (B, L, D) Day 3 – June 20 - Hike to the Most Eastern Point of North America, Cape Spear Hike Blackhead to Cape Spear to Maddox Cove on the ECT (#23 & 24 in Hikes Guidebook* pg. 62-65), AMC Rated Moderate (4), Start at trailhead in Blackhead & follow trail for 3.7 km (2.3 miles), path is mostly exposed so if foggy and/or windy this will be omitted. There are two lighthouses at Cape Spear (one active, one is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland). Also at Cape Spear are remnants of old gun batteries that were part of the coastal defense. Cape Spear is the easternmost point in Canada and North America. The path winds along cliff tops and open headlands with good bird viewing areas. It also crosses streams and passes numerous glacial erratic’s. The trail from Cape Spear to Maddox Cove is approx. 10 km (6.2 miles), elevation range 7-64 meters (23-210 ft) Guesthouse: Points East Meals: (B, L, D) Day 4 – June 21 - Hike Father Troy’s Trail Hike the Father Troy's Trail on the ECT (#18 in Hikes Guidebook* pg. 52-53) with an AMC Rating of Easy (3). We start at end of Spray Lane in Torbay and the hike will be approx. 8.7 km (5.4 miles). Highlights are; Torby, Church Cove and Beamer (sharp point of land that juts out into the Atlantic. The elevation range is 2-120 meters (7 - 394 ft). Alternate hike (weather dependent) will be Stiles Cove Path (#17 in Hike Guidebook pg. 50-51) with an AMC Rated Vigorous (5). This hike starts in Flatrock, and the distance is approx. 15 km (9.3 miles) with an elevation range of 0-103 meters (0-338 ft). Highlights: rivers, waterfalls, bridges, coves and cliffs. Guesthouse: Points East Meals: (B, L, D) Day 5 – June 22 - Transfer to Port Kirwan, Boat Tour to Witless Bay Ecological Reserve (Birds, Sea animals and potential Icebergs) While transferring to Belle Maison in Port Kirwan we will enjoy a boat tour to Witless Bay Ecological Reserve where one can see Puffins, and other sea birds. We may also have the opportunity to see various types of whales and icebergs. Afterward the boat trip we will make our way to Port Kirwan with a potential stop in Ferryland before setting our eyes on Belle Maison. Guesthouse: Belle Maison main house and outlying buildings Meals: (B, L, D) (Attribution: Photo by Wikipedia at Wikimedia Commons) Day 6 – June 23 - Hike Flamber Head Path on the East Coast Trail Hike Flamber Head Path on the ECT (#31 in Hikes Guidebook* pg. 78-79), AMC Rated Moderate (4), start at La Manche, Hike is approx. 12 km (7.5 miles) with elevation 2-96 meters (6.6 to 315 ft.), Highlights: Cape Neddick, Flamber Head, the Quays Guesthouse: Belle Maison Meals: (B, L, D) (picture by Erica Harvey, Operations Mgr. at A Wilder Experience Co. in Cape Broyles, Newfoundland) Day 7 – June 24 - Sea kayak in Cape Broyles Bay, afternoon beach lunch then relaxing or short hike Enjoy a Half day guided sea kayaking in the inner harbor of Cape Broyle in a two-person kayak. Cape Broyle has a sheltered harbor perfectly suitable for kayaking. Experience sea stacks, sea birds, eagle nests, and waterfalls. This tour is suitable for those with no sea kayaking experience. Tour provides wetsuits when weather dictates. Participants should bring; reusable water bottle, shoes (they may get wet), sunscreen, weather appropriate clothing (preferably synthetic, no cotton). Guesthouse: Belle Maison Meals: (B, L, D) (picture by Erica Harvey, Operations Mgr. at A Wilder Experience Co. in Cape Broyles, Newfoundland) (picture by Erica Harvey, Operations Mgr. at A Wilder Experience Co. in Cape Broyles, Newfoundland) Day 8 – June 25 - Hike Spurwink Island Path on the East Coast Trail Hike Spurwink Island Path on the ECT (#37 in Hikes Guidebook* pg. 90-91), AMC Rated Vigorous (5), Start at Shoal Bay Road in Goulds, Hike is approx. 17 km (10.56 miles), with elevation range 7 - 79 meters (23-260 ft.). Highlights: Berry Head sea arch, Spurwink Island. Guesthouse: Belle Maison Meals:(B, L, D) (picture from Wikipedia, The Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland, 15:22, 14 April 2005, by Jcmurphy, Day 9 – June 26 - Hike Cape Broyle Head Path on the East Coast Trail Hike Cape Broyle Head Path to Calvert on the ECT (#33 in Hikes of Eastern Newfoundland Guidebook*, pg. 82-83), AMC Rated Vigorous (5). Start at the end of a paved road north of Calvert, hike is approx. 18.5 km (11.5 miles) with elevation range of 0-160 meters (0-525 ft.), Highlights: This trail is considered to be the most difficult section of the ECT with views of Ferryland and Lance Cove Beach. Guesthouse: Belle Maison Meals: (B, L, D) (picture from Wikipedia, The person who associated a work with this deed has dedicated the work to the public domain by waiving all of their rights to the work worldwide under copyright law) Day 10 – June 27 - Transfer to St. John’s , Explore St. John’s, Farewell dinner Travel to St John's Alt Hotel, Group walk to Signal Hill, Explore St John's, free time, farewell dinner Hotel: Hotel in St John’s Meals: (B, D) Day 11 – June 28 – Travel home Our trip ends this morning at the hotel. We will make our way on our own to the St John’s airport and home, or possibly other destinations if you wish to extend your tip. Accommodations: Home or continuing on in Newfoundland Meals: None Possible Itinerary Changes While the itinerary in this prospectus is what the leaders have planned at the time of writing, various factors may require changes for reasons of safety, transportation or lodging availability, and unforeseeable circumstances (such as weather considerations, natural disasters in areas to be visited, or governmental or ranger recommendations).