News and Events

On May 18 IAT/IATNL President Paul Wylezol and Financial Director Kevin Noseworthy pulled on their hiking boots for the first time in 2010.  The occasion was a 10-hour trek into Gros Morne National Park's Overfall in Trout River Valley to survey the potential for an IATNL / Gros Morne National Park trail connecting Trout River Pond to the IATNL's future Chimney Cove Valley Trail.

On June 5 at the grand opening of the Appalachian Trail Museum in Pine Grove State Park, Pennsylvania, the International Appalachian Trail officially welcomed Scotland and the West Highland Way as the first European Chapter of the IAT.   Joining IAT President Paul Wylezol in welcoming the WHW were ATC executive members, AT Museum directors, and State and County Representatives.

The Appalachian Trail Museum held its grand opening on June 5 at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Gardners, Pennyslvania.  The event was attended by museum directors, Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) officials, state and county government representatives, long-distance hikers, and IAT/IATNL President Paul Wylezol.

From April 20-24 four students from Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley completed a 5 day/4 night winter trek of the Indian Lookout Trail.   The students were fulfilling an important requirement of their 2-year outdoor adventure program.  The expedition was sponsored in part by the IATNL, who provided logistical support and accommodations.

On April 22 at the Annual IAT Council Meeting in Halifax-Dartmouth, IAT Greenland Director René Kristensen and IAT Greenland member Hans Gundel gave a slideshow presentation of their 2009 two-week trail blazing trek of what would become the new IAT Greenland route.  They were accommpanied by 4 other hikers and the ever-present "midnight" sun.

On April 22-23 at the Annual IAT Council Meeting in Halifax-Dartmouth, Greenland joined the International Appalachian Trail as the 7th official chapter.  In attendance from Greenland were IAT Greenland Director René Kristensen and his Greenlander hiking friend Hans Gundel.   The two-day event started with cocktails (i.e. beers) and fine dining (i.e. pub grub), and a slideshow from René and Hans.

On March 22 IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol and Signage Director Delano Pittman made a one-day snowmobile trip into the Long Range Mountains of the Northern Peninsula to scout out the recently created CBPPL-IATNL Special Management Areas at Brian's Pond Inner Pond and Western Blue Inner Pond, before returning to Zinc Mine Road just north of Daniel's Harbour.

On March 25-26, IAT President Paul Wylezol gave a slide show presentation of the IAT at the Binational Tourism Summit in Niagara Falls, New York.   The host Binational Tourism Alliance is a not-for-profit tourism industry trade organization created to support tourism development in cross border regions shared by Canada and the United States.

From April 19 to 27, four students from Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley's Outdoor Adventure Leadership Program will be in the mountains of Western Newfoundland completing their Final Expedition.  The group will spend 7 days and 6 nights winter backpacking on the Devil's Bite and Indian Lookout Trails between Parsons Pond and Portland Creek on the Great Northern Peninsula.

From February 19 to 21, IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol, Communications Director Greg Wood, and Treasurer Kevin Noseworthy attended the Boston Globe Travel Show.   The IATNL was  an exhibitor with its own booth to promote the International Appalachian Trail.  On February 19 they were joined by IAT Maine members Richard Anderson, Will Richard and Walter Anderson.