East Coast Trail NEWS: October 2022 Newsletter

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Spurwink Island Path

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Gord Follett

Oct 17, 2022

It’s been a busy season here at the East Coast Trail Association!
Read on to see what we’ve been up to over the last quarter…

Peak hiking season on the East Coast Trail saw a great number of day-hikers and thru-hikers, alike, with many people local to the Avalon Peninsula hiking the ECT, as well as many tourists from across Canada, the US, and countries around the world! In fact, long-time Trail Manager, Ed Delaney, said that this summer, he saw more thru-hikers on the Trail than ever before.

We were able to chat with one thru-hiker, DJ Leslie, about his experience on the East Coast Trail this summer. Read more about DJ’s thru-hike here.

Unfortunately, due to low registration, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our 2022 Trail Raiser On the Go. We would like to offer a sincere thank-you to the individuals who registered for the Trail Raiser On the Go – we appreciate the support you have given the East Coast Trail Association. We look forward to joining together once again in June 2023 at our Trail Raiser Community Hike.

During the first quarter of the year, we partnered together with Quidi Vidi Brewery to create the East Coast Trail Pathfinder IPA beer, which launched in June. In addition, Quidi Vidi Brewery launched a marketing campaign to promote Pathfinder IPA, adding their “QV Pathfinder” symbol to 25 ECT trailheads. This campaign proved to be highly successful, with lots of trail-users and beer-drinkers, alike engaging with both parties on social media and promoting the East Coast Trail and Quidi Vidi Brewery.

We are excited to announce in partnership with the St. John’s International Airport Authority, thirty two of the airport’s garbage and recycling bins now feature beautiful ECT landscapes and messages encouraging travelers to “leave no trace” and “help keep our trails clean.” Together we hand-picked some superb photos of the Trail, being sure to highlight all 25 paths. Keep an eye out the next time you’re traveling!

Thanks to funding from ACOA, the province, and a number of municipalities, we were able to have two eight-person work crews working on the Trail this season. These crews were assigned to routine and emergency maintenance tasks, as well as upgrade projects for specific paths. Read more.

Our first batch of new trailhead signs recently arrived in St. John’s from our fabricators in Nova Scotia. Our installation company is currently drafting their approach and are expected to start the installation process at the beginning of November. We hope to complete the Northern section of the Trail this season, with the rest of the signs going in next spring.

We have had a successful season of Volunteer Maintenance Outings. This quarter, outings have been held on Island Meadow Path, Biscan Cove Path, and Piccos Ridge Path. Thank you to all of the dedicated volunteers who participated in Volunteer Maintenance Outings this summer. Read more.

Fall can be a great season for hiking, with beautiful vistas filled with changing leaves, comfortable temperatures, and less crowds. However, if you’re hoping to hit the Trail this fall, it’s important to remember that fall conditions can vary greatly from those in the summer hiking season and to plan accordingly. Here are some things to keep in mind:

The days are already starting to get shorter and daylight savings time ends on November 6. Be sure to start hiking in time so that you’re off the Trail before dark. It’s also never a bad idea to pack a headlamp, no matter what time of day you’re hiking.
The weather in Newfoundland is always unpredictable, especially in the fall. Be sure to pack extra layers to help stay warm if the temperature drops, and if you’re camping, pack a tarp in case tent platforms are damp. On that note, be aware of the comfort range of your sleeping bag.
Moose hunting season is ongoing in Area 35 (St. John’s) and Area 36 (Southern Shore) until December 31. Wear bright colours so you are easily visible to hunters and make some noise while hiking on the Trail (while respecting other hikers, of course).
Staying hydrated while hiking is important during all seasons, however, hydration helps your body regulate its temperature, so drinking lots of water will actually help ensure you stay warm.
There are no open fires permitted on the Trail, so if you want to warm up with some coffee, or a warm meal, be sure to pack to camp or backpack stove.

We had a fun summer of guided hikes, as well! Each year from April to November, ECTA volunteers lead public guided hikes on ECT paths, available free of charge to the public. Guided hikes are great for those who are new to hiking and are acquainting themselves with the Trail for the first time, or simply enjoy, or feel more comfortable, hiking with a larger group. May saw our first guided hike of the season, and since July, Guided Hike Leaders lead hikes on La Manche Village Path, Cape Spear Path, Cobblers Path, Silver Mine Head Path, and Spout Path. We even partnered with the Town of Cape Broyle in celebrating their Come Home Year by hosting a guided hike on Brigus Head Path in early August. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Hike Leader or Co-Leader, see the below section Guided Hike Leader Recruitment.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Hike Leader or Co-Leader, click here.

We have a fall foliage guided hike coming up on October 22 on Deadmans Bay Path. For more information and to register, click here.

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