Rainy Indian Range Trail

Clouds and rain followed me as I walked up Seal Cove Road in Stephenville Crossing. The portion of the IATNL named Indian Range Trail had been highly talked about and I was all excited to trade the T’Railway for the woods. I was in need of a change of pace and terrain to walk onto.

I must have been laughing during the whole 7 kilometers. Combining boggy terrain and rain created an extremely wet trail. Jump over this hole, hop from grassy patch to grassy patch and across slippery logs, what a fun time I had. Although, at least half the trail was shared with a flowing stream. My hiking boots surprisingly remained dry for the whole portion of IATNL. As I reached a little log bridge across what one of my teachers would call a “Mammoth trap”, I planted my hiking pole down the black muddy hole, curious to check its depth. It sank down the whole meter and a half and could have kept on going if it was longer.

Unfortunately as I reached higher elevations the clouds were obstructing the view. I’ll have to hike that trail another time during a bright sunny and dry day. It seemed so beautiful, even between clouds and fog patches. A few ponds were scattered further below. Even the wildlife seemed to stay under shelter for this wet day. “Capelin Season” they call it in Newfoundland.

My day ended back in Corner Brook after only two rides while hitch hiking. Tomorrow would be shopping time. I needed to buy a new cooking pot and dry bag to hike further into the backcountry. Next on the Newfoundland Traverse, the Lewis Hills.

If you want to hike the Indian Range Trail do so when it’s not raining, unless you want a good laugh and most likely wet shoes. Find more info about that hiking trail in the book Hikes of Western Newfoundland.

Live Wildly Intrepid!

Carpe Diem

Alex