Viamigo

4 - 5 days of backpacking and 2 – 3 days of hiking: 7 days total.

You don’t need to go to the Rocky Mountains for spectacular scenery and wildlife. Gros Morne is a little known gem with spectacular mountains rising over 700 m (2,000 ft.) right out of the ocean, waterfalls dropping 500 m (1,500 ft.) from primitive lakes in sub-arctic conditions, and it abounds with woodland caribou, moose, fox, arctic hare, ptarmigan and black bear. You should see them all in their natural habitat so bring your camera. Our timing for these trips usually eliminates most of the bugs and provides an ideal backpacking temperature. This trip visits the wildest parts of the park where the wildlife is.

Gros Morne became a national park in 1973 and was declared Canada’s 10th World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1987. It protects some of the most spectacular scenery and wildlife in eastern Canada. In fact, the backcountry hiking, wildlife, and breathtaking scenery are unparalleled in eastern Canada. Atop the Long-Range plateau, there are no marked or manicured trails and no fabricated features to assist hikers in navigation. Most of the hike is across muddy bogs and arctic-type barrens with many ups and downs often following well-used moose and caribou trails. The terrain is rugged and it is necessary for your guide to find routes through or around, almost impenetrable growths of tuckamore and away from steep cliffs and bogs.

Hikers will pass waterfalls and countless ponds, and cross wet bogs, dry heath land, and alpine barrens. A great place for Gore-Tex lined hiking boots. Our campsites will be on wooden tent platforms or on the grassy tundra. We don’t understand why people spend so much money on arctic and western trips when Gros Morne has so much to offer.

We usually start the day early rising around 6:00 hrs to get on the trail before 8:30 hrs. We try to finish early (between 15:00 and 17:00 hrs) each day and this allows plenty of time for relaxing, snoozing, swimming, reading, photography, etc. The actual itinerary will vary due to weather, fitness level, and group desires.

The Long Range Trail is very rugged. Trippers must have previous overnight backpacking experience, be in good physical condition, and have room in their packs to be able to carry some food, tent parts, and other supplies. Packs will likely weigh upwards of 15 -18 kg (35 - 40 lbs). The temperature may go below freezing at night (even in August), but the days should be warm. Rain and fog are definite possibilities.