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East Coast Trail, NL, Canada

Sep 26 - Oct 3, 2015 -- $1300 ★★★, Only 1 Spot Left

The East Coast Trail, is a world class hiking trail that hugs the Easternmost coast of Newfoundland (and Canada AND North America). There is an amazingly panoply of sea birds as well as moose, coyote and even caribou.


The East Coast Trail website says it best: The paths of the East Coast Trail take you past towering cliffs and headlands, sea stacks, deep fjords, and a natural wave-driven geyser called the Spout. It provides access to abandoned settlements, lighthouses, ecological reserves, seabird colonies, whales, icebergs, world's southern most caribou herd, historic sites, a 50-metre suspension bridge, two active archaeological dig sites, and many more attractions. It offers a wilderness paradise of boreal forest, fresh clean air and quiet solitude, all combined with the raw natural beauty of the rugged Atlantic Ocean.


Here is an excellent article that calls the East Coast Trail one of Canada's Hiking Holy Grails.


Our journey will begin at Bay Bulls. From there, we will head up the coast for the rest of the trip, passing a lighthouse and subsequently the Spout (a wave driven geyser). Around mid-week, we'll spend a night at Wild Roses B&B to shower off the trail and experience excellent Newfoundland Hospitality. Then it's on to Cape Spear, the Easternmost point in all of North America (the time zone is weird as it's 1.5 hours later than Eastern Standard Time). From there, we'll head back into St. Johns to complete our trek.



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when backpacking, especially on the East Coast Trail. Autumn is really one of the best times to visit since it's still not too cold yet and the bugs are gone. East Coast Trail weather averages. show that you should prepared for rain, wind and possibly freezing weather. Expect daytime temperatures in the mid-50s and nighttime temps in the mid-40s. The ocean moderates the air temperature so it doesn't get very warm during the day, but also doesn't get very cold at night.



Trip Leaders

Steve Silberberg
Adam Kaufman

Cost

$1300 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a hotel room with another trip participant. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from St. Johns Newfoundland (YYT) as well as personal equipment and any restaurant meals.


Covered expenses include 2 hotel nights, 1 night in a B&B, 6 days of trail meals, ground transportation, permits, fees and awesome guides.



Important Note

The East Coast Trail is moderate to difficult. Weather during the shoulder season is the primary reason for this. Expect lots of wind and a reasonable amount of precipitation in Newfoundland.


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Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
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Itinerary


Saturday, September 26, 2015

Fly or drive into St. Johns (YYT) Newfoundland

Take free airport shuttle to Comfort Inn Airport, 106 Airport Rd, St. John's, NL A1A 4Y3, 709-753-3500.

Equipment shakedown

Distribution of trail mix

"Before" body composition measurements taken

Trip to The Outfitters Store, 220 Water Street, St. John's, NL Canada, 800-966-9658, for forgotten or last minute equipment

Go out to welcome dinner in town, not included in trip cost

Stay at Comfort Inn



Sunday, September 27, 2015

Second set of before body composition measurements taken

Free hotel breakfast

Check out of hotel

Shuttle van or hotel will take your spare bag(s) for safekeeping

Shuttle to Bay Bulls Trailhead, East Coast Trail

Hike 3.6 Km (2.2 miles) to Bull Head Lighthouse

Hike 0.4 Km (0.2 miles) to Walsh's Gardens. There is a waterfall here as well as a privy

Hike 1.1 Km (0.7 miles) to Bald Head River

Fill all water containers here as tonight will be a dry camp

Hike 0.8 Km (0.5 miles) to Bald Head.

Dispersed Camp at Bald Head practicing Leave No Trace

Distance today: 6.5 Km (4.0 miles). Total to date: 6.5 Km (4.0 miles)

Possible Bailout: Bay Bulls Trailhead


Monday, September 28, 2015

Hike 4.1 Km (2.5 miles), mostly uphill to Landing Place Waterfall

Hike 0.6 Km (0.4 miles) to Little Bald Head

There is a waterfall here as well as a privy

Hike 0.6 Km (0.4 miles) to the Spout

Hike 4.5 Km (2.8 miles) to Raymond Head. There is water here.

Hike 2.0 Km (1.2 miles) to Miner Point Campsite. There is water (?) and a privy here.

Camp at Miner Point Campsite

Distance today: 11.8 Km (7.3 miles). Total to date: 18.3 Km (11.4 miles)

Possible Bailout: Shoal Bay Road


Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Hike 6.0 Km (3.7 miles) to Queen River. Water can be found here.

Hike 2.4 Km (1.5 miles) to Freshwater River. Water can be found here.

Hike 2.6 Km (1.6 miles) to Maddox Cove

A shuttle from Wild Roses Bed & Breakfast, will pick us up and transport us there.

Wild Roses has showers, wireless internet, laundry, TV (if you need a fix) and many other amenities.

Distance Today: 11.0 Km (6.8 miles). Total to Date: 29.3 Km (18.2 miles)

Possible Bailout: Maddox Cove


Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Have a complementary homestyle breakfast at the B&B with Newfoundland Hospitality

Fill all water vessels in preparation of dry camping tonight

Wild Roses will shuttle us back to the trail

Road Hike 2.8 Km (1.7 miles) through town on paved roads to the Trailhead

Hike 5.6 Km (3.5 miles) to Rock Isle

Hike 3.9 Km (2.4 miles) to Broad Cove, just outside of Cape Speak National Historic Site, the Easternmost point in North America

Camp at Broad Cove. There is no water here.

Distance Today: 12.3 Km (7.6 miles). Total to Date: 41.6 Km (25.8 miles)

Possible Bailout: Maddox Cove or Blackhead Trailhead


Thursday, October 1, 2015

Hike 2.0 Km (1.2 miles) to the Blackhead Trailhead

Hike 0.1 Km (0.1 miles) to Spear Bay Brook. Water can be found here.

Hike 1.7 Km (1.1 miles) to Dummy Fort

Hike 1.9 Km (1.2 miles) to Blackhead

Hike 6.9 Km (4.3 miles) to the Ennis River

Dispersed Camp at Ennis River practicing Leave No Trace principles

Distance today: 12.6 Km (7.8 miles). Total to date: 54.2 Km (33.7 miles)

Bailout: Blackhead Rd.


Friday, October 2, 2015

Hike 3.8 Km (2.4 miles) to the Ft. Amherst

End of Hike

Distance today: 3.8 Km (2.4 miles). Total to date: 58 Km (36 miles)

We are now in St. Johns

Walk to Comfort Inn Airport, 106 Airport Rd, St. John's, NL A1A 4Y3, 709-753-3500.

"After" measurements taken

Dinner and awards Ceremony (Dinner cost not included in trip cost)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Saturday, October 3, 2015

Free Hotel Breakfast

Leave Hotel

Free airport shuttle


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