Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Freshwater Bay Take II

To pass the time one evening (7-Jun-07 to be exact), Cheryl and myself went to Freshwater Bay from the Blackhead Road. It's only about 3 - 4 km round trip so it was a nice evening stroll. Anyway, I won't go into too much detail in this one as I've already described Freshwater Bay. However, this time there was an iceberg visible. This shot is looking North (or in that general direction) up the coast.

Roaring Cove 8-Apr-07

Right, back to the scenery shots and some level of sense.

In April, I bought a new sleeping bag and decided it had to be tested out (MEC Hybrid -20C). So, since the weather was past the worst of the Baltic temperatures but with some snow still remaining on the ground, I decided to go on an overnight trip.

Roaring Cove is a campsite on the East Coast Trail only about 4 - 5 km north of Brigus South so it was perfect to test out some cold weather camping stuff withouth walking too far into the wilderness.

Anyway, I left Brigus South in fairly windy and chilly conditions until I got onto the ECT. While the trail was not totally snow covered, there were many areas of deep snow to get over and I didn't bother taking my snow shoes. Therefore, there were a few sudden plunges into the snow up to my knees at some points. One was particularly sore actually. In addition, I was noticing a lot of moose shite on the trail and didn't fancy my chances having to outrun one of the beasts in these conditions. Luckily, the shite was all I saw as far as moose goes.

So, I finally reached my destination and took a bit of time trying to get the best tent site. They have wooden platforms at these sites to prevent too much damage to the ground but a lot of the sites were frozen in. Luckily, I took my wee shovel and cleared one off enough to get the tent on it. Once that was done, I went on the hunt for firewood because there was no way I wasn't having a fire. Not only does it give heat, it provided the much needed moral support and mental stimulation to get me through until bed time. What else was I going to do while I had some beer?

Here's a shot of the site with my one man tent (Mountain Hardware PCT1) and the new sleeping bag therein, ready to be tested. Thankfully, there wasn't a drop of precipitation so I could sit outside. I appear to have taken a lot of crap with me but rest assured that I had it all packed nicely in my new rucksack (Arcteryx Bora 65), which is the black thing leaning on my tent.

Anyway, while well aware of the temperature-reducing effects of alcohol (I didn't care), I finished off some beer and went to bed. I have to say that the sleeping bag performed well although I used my lighter weight Thermorest which was a mistake as I felt the cold from the frozen wood beneath the tent. I should have used Cheryl's uber-massive Thermorest that she insisted on buying. Despite being double the size of mine, it probably would have been worth carrying it for some extra warmth.

After a somewhat restless night (but with some sleep), I got up the next morning and tried to have a cup of tea but again, I overestimated my summer camping gear and took the MSR Pocket Rocket instead of my multi fuel stove. Therefore, with the gas being so cold and quarter full, it didn't produce much heat and I couldn't get water boiled for tea. I used what I had, which resulted in a crappy cup of tea, and packed up to return to the car.

On the way back, the weather was much nicer than the previous day and this can be seen by this shot.

I got back to the car in decent time and headed back to St John's. It wasn't until I was parked in my driveway and unloaded the car that I realised that I'd left my hiking poles in the car park in Brigus South (a 45 min drive). Bollocks! Oh well, they were cheap. Another (half) success.

Broke Ma Wrist Playing Fitba

Shortly after returning from Scotland - this happened. Metal min!

New Year 2006 -07 - Scotland

This doesn't really fall into the Newfoundland category but it's worth a mention and a few photos. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I went home for Christmas 2006 and the subsequent New Year so here are a few photos of the event.

First of all, I went for an "auld mannie" style walk with my Dad one crisp clear morning through the Crooked Woods and much to my dismay, it has been half chopped down. The following photo overlooks the Rattray's (if they still own it) farm and beyond to Urquhart. If I took this photo when I was wee, I'd still be in the trees. Boo!!

On one of my other family outings, I went to Lossiemouth, where my sister now lives. Again, I was surprised by the half decent weather although it was a tad chilly. Anyway, here's Lossie beach - a place I frequented as a youngster to jump off the dunes and spent a good few seconds in the water before getting back out again.

Despite neither my Dad or me being golfers, we decided to go golfing at the Rothes golf course in freezing conditions. We were both shite and the greens were like concrete so even the rare good shots to the greens bounced off another 100 yards. Anyway, here's me in a Speyside tourism shot.

And finally, it wouldn't be a New Year in Scotland without getting blootered so right enough, I managed to do this with a raging cold at Adam's party. Thankfully, numerous cans of "cooking lager" (Tennants) and whisky temporarily cured the cold/sinus infection. However, it did not cure my foolishness as I was caught trying out Adam's helmet with a stupid looking smirk on my face. I enjoyed the party but couldn't talk the next day as my cold was actually worse than the hangover - not sure which is worse to be honest. Dearie me!


Saturday, October 13, 2007

Freshwater Bay

It was a clear and crisp morning with a wee bit of frost on 4-Nov-06, so I decided to go for a quick return-trip hike out to Freshwater Bay from Fort Amherst. My intent was to go right out to Small Point which is a needle-like bit of rock jutting out into the sea. Anyway, I set off from the road on the South Side Road and took the East Coast Trail up onto the hills overlooking the St John's harbour narrows. It's a prolonged climb but not a great amount of elevation really. Anyway, once at the top of the hill over Fort Amherst, I turned to take this shot looking north up the coast. Signal Hill overlooks the harbour narrows which is out of sight down behind the trees at the bottom of the shot.

Once you're up here, it's pretty much a plateau with some small up-and-downs as you walk south. As you get closer towards the trails coming in from Shea Heights, there are signs of people on mountain bikes using the trail, which I thought was frowned upon by the East Coast Trail people but oh well, I suppose they can't police the paths. Anyway, by this time, the frost had melted off and while it was hardly warm, it was an extremely pleasant day. There is a spot along this part of the trail where Freshwater Bay (and it's barachois) are visible. See photo....

I eventually approached the treeline where you descend into the bay and I have to confess to a little navigational mistake here. Well, to be honest, I always overestimate how clear the path is on the East Coast Trail because I assumed it would be easy to follow. Not so. I veered off over a rocky mound and into thick trees. By the time the feeling of "this isn't the path" sunk in 100%, I had already descended a fair bit. Since I knew where I was, I made the decision to add to the adventure of this wee hike and continued to plough through the trees, heading ever downward to where I knew the path would be. It was quite taxing and following a slip on a log with the subsequent fall onto my back, I took it fairly easy.

So, after perhaps double the time it should have taken and covered in various forms of dirt and moss, I emerged onto the path that goes to Coadys Mine, which is a little beyond the regular ECT path (I knew this and hoped to arrive at it). I brushed off the worst of the dirt and headed for the barchois. This photo shows the kind of terrain I was coming down. It's taken from the barachois, looking north. I was fighting my way down through those trees on the left.

Anyway, the barachois is a natural formation of rocks across the bay and is littered with wreackge from a boat that sunk in the area. I'm not sure on the details of this but it gives the place a bit of an eerie feeling. Here's some of the wreckage strewn along the rocks.

As I said, my intention was to continue over the bay to Small Point but the problem with this is that that barachois does not go right across and has an opening for a stream to flow into the sea. At this time, it was after a lot of heavy rain and the water flowing over the gap was a little fast. However, I'd walked all this way and didn't want to be turned back this easy. Therefore, I donned my gaiters, took a firm hold of my hiking poles (which I'd taken specifically for this reason) and started wading. It was surprising how quickly my feet got wet. Anyway, I didn't get more than a third of the way across before my nerves got the better of me and I chickened out. Maybe a younger version of myself would have gone further but the thought of being washed into the sea did not appeal to me at the time.

So, I retreated and met a follow hiker just coming onto the barachois. He probably thought I was an idiot for trying to cross it and this was most likely confirmed when I said I was going to head further upstream to attempt a crossing there. I said farewell to him and experienced another failure. Well, I didn't even try to cross again as the water was simply too high to get across.

Given this turn of events, I went back the way I came. Of course, this didn't include the trek up through the trees as I actually used the path this time. With damp feet and a slight feeling of defeat I hightailed it back to the car, meeting people going the other direction along the way. What happened to getting up early for a hike? It must have been all those Moray Mountaineering trips when we had to get the bus at 4:00 in the morning.

Just to finish off this entry, here's a picture of Signal Hill, showing the trail that runs along the side of the hill in the narrows.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Avalon Wilderness Reserve

I had tried mountain biking/cycle touring into the Avalon Wilderness Reserve (referred as AWR from now on) about a year prior to this trip but due to technical difficulties with my bike, I had to retreat. So, on 12th August 2006, I tried again but this time on foot to minimise any mechanical issues.

Anyway, I left from St John's and drove down the Southern Shore Highway until I reached Horsechops Road, just before Cape Broyle. The word 'road' in Horsechops Road is used very loosely given that I'd call it more of a track with a ridiculous amount of pot holes but it's still better than walking from the highway. I drove in as far as my car could physically take me before continuing on foot.

By this time, it was well into the evening and as I walked into the AWR, it was getting dark. My aim was to reach Mount Carmel Pond and find somewhere to put the tent up there. Enroute, a rather grumpy looking fellow travelling in the opposite direction to me took it upon himself to ask me where I was going and then put another dent in my morale by exclaiming "you've got a fair ways to go yet!". I was swearing under my breath as he drove off on his quad bike.

Finally, as it was getting almost "properly dark", Mount Carmel Pond was in front of me. This is another weird Newfoundland thing. A pond to me is something in someone's back garden. This thing was like a gigantic loch. Anyway, whilst being eaten alive by various flying objects in the dark, I found a spot to get the tent up, drank some beers that I'd lugged in with me and fell asleep.

In the morning, I surveyed the area for the first time in daylight and this photo shows where I put up my tent (one-man). This area appears to be fairly well used by campers given the stump/seat that someone has made and of course, the litter and beer cans that were lying around (none of mine!). Thankfully, I was the only person around while I was here.

Once I had some breakfast, I left the tent, took a small bag and continued along the same track (Horsechops) as it basically goes right in the AWR. I was hoping to see some caribou but unfortunately, there wasn't a single living thing to be seen - well, nothing that runs, flies or bites anyway.

After I felt that I'd had enough of the track, I went cross-country over to a wee hill to get a better look at the surroundings. These photos are typical of what I saw in either direction.

Once I'd had my fill of the scenery, I decided that I couldn't really be bothered walking much further into the AWR. Well, there was that and the fact that the weather was closing in with fog and rain so I wanted to make it back to the track as soon as possible and start back to the tent. On the way back, I decided there was no need to stay another night and further exploration would require walking in WITH the tent. I got back to the tent about mid-afternoon, so I decided to pack up and continue on to the car and home.

Overall, it was a worthwhile trip but I needed more time to really expore the place. This trip was just to get a feel for it. Maybe next time, I'll go in further and maybe walk right across it.

Cape Spear to Petty Harbour (Snowshoeing)

I did this walk, which is part of the East Coast Trail, on 18th March 2006 when there was still as fair bit of snow and low temperatures to deal with. At the time of writing this, it is still the only time I've been out on my snowshoes, which is pretty lame. I'll have to make more of an effort this winter.

Anyway, I got dropped off at Cape Spear car park and walked up to the lighthouse area without the snowshoes after which I took this rather dramatic photo of myself thinking that I look cool. The whole walk is coastal so that's the sea I'm pretending to look out over. I'm really just waiting for the timer to go off on my camera so I can rush back and get it before it's blown over.

So, after donning my snowshoes (a pain in the erse to do with cold fingers) I made my way south along the treeless coast. About 3/4 the way along here, it started snowing and the wind picked up so I wussed out and put on all my waterproof gear, which of course involved removing and re-attaching my snowshoes to get the trousers on...bah!

Without snow, you'd have to continue right along to the point before heading SW towards Petty Harbour. However, with nothing but a smooth expanse of snow, I just took a direct shortcut across what is normally fairly boggy and rough ground - it was great for a lazy bastard like me. However, before I did this, I took a shot looking back at Cape Spear. See below.

Once I'd cut the corner and returned to the coastline, I spotted a few cross country ski tracks but did not see anyone else at all that day. Anyway, the most difficult part was yet to come as I entered the wooded part of the coastline. There was considerably more gradients to deal will, as well as some difficulity actually sticking to the correct route. I'm still not sure I did stick to what would be the East Coast Trail but somehow I found my way through without getting too close to some of the cliffs nearby.

I stopped in an abandoned hut with no door and collapsing roof for lunch. It was a tad chilly to be sitting there for too long but I took my trusty flask to provide the ever-welcome cup of tea that takes the sting off any discomfort on a walk. I cannot stress enough the importance of tea when hiking and camping.....I'm sure this will be a recurring theme.

After this (and a hairy stream crossing where I couldn't determine the edges of the stream), I made my way into Maddox Cove, which is actually where you first return to civilisation. However, I took off my snowshoes and continued around the road to Petty Harbour, where I bought a cup of coffee and phoned to be picked up. All in all, I think it took me about 4 hours but I can't recall how accurate that is. Worth doing again for sure.