Trail Enhancement Work 2013

Friday, January 3, 2014

Trail Enhancement Work 2013

The second year of a three year trail enhancement process has been completed as of November 2013.

East Coast Trail Association seasonal team leaders and crew members improved and replaced first priority structural deterioration on several of the older
paths south of St. John’s. These sections, having seen up to almost twenty years of usage by locals and visiting hikers, will benefit all trail users for seasons to come.

The heavily used Cape Spear Path has sustained a complete renewal of boardwalk for the first 4 km south of Cape Spear Park boundary. The Maddox Cove end of this path has seen
major boardwalk replacement and improvement at the trailhead and through the meadow and fen areas south of The Flats.

The Spout Path enhancement done this season addressed the northern section of this path.

Flamber Head Path enhancement brought major structural improvement from Brigus South heading north, with boardwalk, new stairs, and fabulous stepping
stones in boggy areas; this work has been completed all the way to Freshwater Quays (Flamber Head). The north end of this path also received long stretches of new
boardwalk through wet marsh, and new stairs replacing deteriorated structures, for noticeable improvement as far as Cape Neddick.

Brigus Head Path received a heavy commitment, removing corduroy and adding some new stairs and more well-placed stepping stones.

Deadmans Bay Path has been improved south of the Freshwater Bay barachois with new boardwalk and stairs where needed, as far as the community of Blackhead.

In addition, the Freshwater Bay access trail has been enhanced with two replacement bridges, two water channel bridges and needed replacement signage.

Signage has also been added or replaced on other paths, where needed, including trailhead signs on Motion Path, Spout Path, Flamber Head Path, Brigus Head Path and others, including some clarification on paths north of St. John’s.

Thank You to the ECTA crew leaders and crew members for an excellent job done.

Year three of the trail enhancement process is expected to deal with East Coast Trail paths south of enhancement work done to date.

Story and photos by J. Van Houwelingen

Top row – Freshwater Bay access path; Flamber Head Path
Bottom row – Brigus Head Path, Deadmans Path, Flamber Head Path, Cape Spear Path