NORTH RIVER FALLS A DEFINITE CHALLENGE EVENT
One of the many (6) brooks we crossed going to North River Falls.(this was the easy one) Please continue reading if you intend to do this HIKE EVENT!
The next walk/Hike event for the CBIH will take place at North River Bridge on Sunday September 26th, 2010.
PRE - WALK ASSESSMENT:
The walk HIKE EVENT must start promptly at 10:00 am
Registration will take place at 09:30 and end at 09:55
HIKE LEADER: Rollie Coombes
There is construction work taking place on the Cabot Trail after St Anne's Gaelic College even on Sunday so please give yourself additional 15 minutes of travel time.
We must be walking asap so that we can be off the trail before dark!
There is no shorter route to North River Falls except by helicopter.
Trails signs along the route, "TRAIL, Keep it Wild" , is definitely true of this dramatic rugged trail.
Our Annual Schedule of Events has rated this trail in error at 2B, in fact this trail should be RATED 4D
As an organization our club has been to North River Falls on three occasions with various results depending on weather conditions and the time of year and as of today this is my 5th trip to North River Falls and this has been the most challenging yet, and again due to weather and wet trail conditions.
This is our Annual Challenge Event and due to heavy rains and fallen trees the event can no longer be considered a simple leisurely Volkssport event or what we would normally consider a walk event for all of our club members. The hike to the falls is not for everyone!!!
The hills we encountered are not extremely high but can be very slippery during and immediately after a rainfall.
If you have any doubts about your ability to cross rivers or scamper across wet rocks or move along a narrow ledge, then you should reconsider going all the way to the falls.
THERE IS AN OPTION CONTINUE READING:
You must be prepared for an 8 Hour Hike to the falls!!
Two of our members Phyllis MacLeod and Diane Clarke had been to the North River Falls immediately after the storm that hit Meat Cove and encountered difficulties and averaged about 8 hours on the trail.
Three of our members Carmel Coffin, Lucy Nardini and Rollie have just returned on Sunday 19 September and we had taken about 7 hours to do the round trip.
Both parties of explorers have indicated we should drop this trail (to the Falls) off of our schedule of events for the foreseeable future.
There are only two bridges remaining across the brooks and streams that are now small rivers, we were forced to make 6 water crossings in order to get to the falls.
We counted over 8 dead falls that we had to maneuverer around causing some delays as well as the water crossing.
Due to the heavy rains the trail is 60% wet with streams flowing along the trail.
If we have more rain this coming week the trail will deteriorate even more and looking at the long term forecast this is a definite possibility.
YOUR OPTIONS:
The schedule of events has given all walkers an option to do 5K, 10K and 18K.
For those members wanting to do 5 & 10 Ks we can offer you a reasonable safe but possibly wet trail with some cautions.
Any members wanting to do the entire 18K to the North River Waterfall must be prepared for an 8 hour demanding HIKE!
WHAT YOU SHOULD TAKE ON THIS TRAIL:
DO NOT WALK ALONE ON THIS TRAIL, EVERYONE MUST KEEP THE PERSON BEHIND OR IN FRONT IN VIEW; WALK IN PAIRS.
All Participants should wear Hiking Boots or good sturdy hiking sneakers.
You must carry water and for those continuing to the falls extra water and definitely a snack
All participants should carry a walking stick to help get across the brooks and along a 400m stretch of a rock face or cliff.
Carry or wear a rain suit/jacket
Carry a whistle in case of injury (the sounds from the river drowns out voices)
Small First Aid kits if you have one, the walk leader will carry a larger FA kit.
A small flashlight would be a smart idea as well just in case we are on the trail after dark.
Dry clothes and shoes upon return, its along drive back home.
The walk HIKE EVENT must start promptly at 10:00 am
Registration will take place at 09:30 and end at 09:55
We must be walking asap so that we can be off the trail before dark!
Our Annual Schedule of Events has rated this trail in error at 2B, in fact this trail should be RATED 4D
Some photos of the pre-walk event:
