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.