| Last updated at 11:42 PM on 24/10/08 |
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Paul Wylezol, chair of the International Appalachian Trail Newfoundland and Labrador, addressed members of the Corner Brook Rotary Club Thursday.
— Star Photo by Cory Hurley |
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Rotarians get a visual update on Appalachian trail work 
CORY HURLEY
The Western Star
CORNER BROOK — The view from the Glynmill Inn changed quite a bit for Rotarians on Thursday.
Paul Wylezol, chair of the International Appalachian Trail Newfoundland and Labrador, and Arne Helgeland, chair of the Bay of Islands section, spoke to members of the Corner Brook Rotary Club.
The outdoorsmen provided an overview of the ongoing work to extend the North American landmark through this province, highlighting the beauty located in everybody’s backyard with a picturesque slide show. The partnership with the International Appalachian Trail, which has extended to include countries such as Portugal and Spain, is mutually beneficial; according to Wylezol.
“In terms of the marketplace, we are part of the IAT brand — it’s a major brand, it’s well recognized throughout North America and elsewhere — but, at the same time within that brand, we want to differentiate ourselves,” he said.
The trails throughout this province also offer many unique amenities that are appealing to hikers from afar, but is also a popular attraction for locals.
Treks through different parts of the region can be taken at various difficulties and lengths, offering spectacles such as waterfalls, icebergs, coastline, mountain tops, lakes, vegetation and wildlife. Trail work this year was focused mainly in three areas.
“We had the Lewis Hills trail section, which is going to be a really spectacular trail over the top of the highest point in Newfoundland,” Wylezol said.
“The Blow Me Down trail section — which includes hiking around the hummock behind Frenchman’s Cove; a beautiful area where you can see both the mountains and the islands, the Humber Arm all the way to Corner Brook. It’s a trail you can probably hike in three hours, in and out.
“...There’s another project on the Northern Peninsula in the Parsons Pond watershed, it’s the second of a three-year project. That area is probably one of the most scenic watersheds in Newfoundland, if not the most scenic.”
In connecting people to the backcountry, Wylezol said the widespread support has been encouraging. He said the organization is open to all comers.
They are currently working on a new, extensive website (www.iatnl.ca) and recently opened a new office on Brook Street.
The planned 1,200 kilometres of the trail in this province begins in Port aux Basques and ends at Belle Isle.
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