Corner Brook -
The proponents of the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) have made some great strides on the path toward expanding the trail network into Western Europe.
A delegation of two members from the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter (IATNL) and six from the IAT in Maine toured the United Kingdom and Ireland in early June and met with government officials, tourism representatives and trail supporters in those areas.
The junket included stops in Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales, all of which contain regions that are essentially extensions of the Appalachian Mountains of North America. European jurisdictions do use different names other than the Appalachians, such as the Caledonians in Scotland.
The goal of the trip was to create new bonds and links with Europe which will double the hiking and outdoor adventure markets for the IAT and IATNL.
"In all, we are hoping to establish four new chapters of the IAT - IAT Scotland, IAT Northern Ireland, IAT Ireland, and IAT Wales," said IATNL chairperson and IAT vice-president Paul Wylezol of Corner Brook, who was part of the delegation with IATNL treasurer Kevin Noseworthy.
"We were well received, with a great deal of interest from the geological surveys, parks, trail, hiking and tourism associations."
In Scotland, the group met with Scottish Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham and attended a public meeting aimed at educating outdoor adventure enthusiasts and the general public about the geology of the Appalachian Mountains and the history and goals of the International Appalachian Trail. They also hiked to Steall Falls in Glen Nevis and trekked to the summit of Ben Nevis, Britain's tallest mountain.
By the time the group left Scotland, plans were being made to form an IAT Scotland steering committee with the goal of establishing an official chapter of the trail organization in that country.
Some of the highlights of their time in southeast and northwest Northern Ireland included visits to St. Patrick's tomb, the Mourne Mountains, Carrickfergus Castle, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the Giant's Causeway. In Ireland, the delegation joined an enthusiastic group of hikers, trail builders and tourism writers on a trek into the Dublin Mountains, including a walk along a short section of the Wicklow Way.
A meeting has been scheduled in Belfast for July 1 for the local stakeholders there to explore IAT Ireland-Northern Ireland trail routing options.
While the recent trip has opened up the road towards the IATNL's goal of making Newfoundland and Labrador a central point geographically, the organization has more plans to expand its network deeper into Western Europe.
"Eventually, beginning next year, we also hope to extend the IAT into the other Appalachian countries of Norway, France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco," said Wylezol.
For more information about IATNL, visit its website at www.iatnl.ca.
