Deer Lake & Gros Morne

September 24-28, 2009
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Although going to Europe in the summer had the risks of big crowds, we knew going to Newfoundland in late September wasn’t going to be crowded.  However, there was a high probability of very cold weather.  In the end we were actually pretty lucky with comfortable hiking weather (at least at normal altitudes) and only a little bit of rain (outside of the park).  The trip was all about Gros Morne National Park where we last visited in 2004.  We spent most of our time there and enjoyed some amazing hikes.  Unlike our last two trips to Newfoundland, this time we saw moose! The biggest hike we did was climbing Gros Morne Mountain and it was definitely a challenge.  The loose rocks we had to climb seemed to go on for ever and when we got the top (at 807m / 2,648 ft) we were greeted with bitter cold and a piercing wind.  Luckily we followed the advice of the park staff and took all of our layers; however, for the 30 minutes at the top, I would have happily taken a few more layers.  On the way down we had a close encounter with a very large moose, who thankfully didn’t use the trail at the same time we needed to.  Although we were sore after, we still managed a few more hikes before the early morning flight back to work on Monday morning.

Sept 25
After a late flight into Deer Lake on the 24th we start our day in the park

Looking across Bonne Bay from Norris Point

More of Bonne Bay

Norris Point village

Our first close encounter with a Moose on the trail to Bakers’ Brook Falls

Bakers’ Brook Falls, the pay off to our long hike

Sunset on Lobster Cover head

Lobster Cover head light house

Our cabin at Gros Morne cabins

Sept 26
The bulk of the day was spent on the Gros Morne Mountain Hike

Gros Morne; our target viewed from the beginning of the hike

The sign pointing straight up is a little intimidating, but it wasn’t that bad

Looking back as we start our climb

The hardest part of the climb was this large gully of boulders

Some fall colours looking back on Ferry Gulch

More panoramic views as we approach the top

The required photo from the summit

Ten Mile Pond from the top of Gros Morne

More rocks, but a lot easier on the way down

Ferry Gulch

A large Moose that was using our path, luckily we were far back

A ptarmigan on the side of the trail as we head back

Sunset from our cabin in Rocky Harbour before a nice seafood dinner

Sept 27
One last full day in the park 

The wreck of S.S. Ethie steamship from 1919 still lines the shore at Boom Point

The Western Brook Pond boat tour

The furthest point into the Western Brook Pond fjord from our boat trip

Some of the steeper mountains in the pond

More of the fjord and blue skies

Looking back on the pond from the boat dock

We spot some elk on the hike back to the car

Our final Moose sighting of the trip

View of the bay from Lamond on the South end of the park

Our final short hike before we head out

Sept 28
After overnighting in Deer Lake we take a very early flight to Toronto through Halifax