“The better organised you are in the simple things, the more spontaneous and free you can be in the more important things.”
​-Brian Tracy

Staying Connected
Mobile Data: Canada is behind when it comes to sim card plans for visitors. They are harder to find and a lot more expensive than basically anywhere else in the world. Take a look at the Arailo app it is part of my Top 15 apps for traveller. It gives you the opportunity to have a cheap alternative to a visitor SIM card.

Cellphone reception on this trail was excellent, you basically have it everywhere (except into Gros-Morne).

Wifi: Most towns you will come across will have some sort of coffee shop or restaurant with Wifi.

There and Away
Flight: St-John's will be your cheapest option for incoming flights. Deer Lake is the closes airport from the end of the trail.

Cappahayden, Canada: No buses are heading to Cappahayden, hitchhiking is your best option. Take the city bus from the airport to the other side of the city where you can walk to the highway to start hitchhiking.

Gulls Marsh, Canada: No shuttle services, hitchhiking is your best option.

Permits
No permits are required to hike most of the trail. The only section that requires a permit is Gros-Morne National Park. The Long Traverse and Northern Traverse Permits are needed. They can be obtain in Rocky Harbour, but keep in mind that during the busy season you should reserve in advance.

Camping
You can basically wild camp anywhere in Newfoundland. Just make sure you respect the land and leave no trace.

Food and Water
Food: Food resupply is extremely easy on the East Coast Trail since little villages are close to one another. The rest of the trail is a little more spaced out, with the longest section being about 140km  For more information, visit Resupply Plan.

Water: Water is not an issue on this trail. I only carried 2L of water for almost the entire trip. 

Trail
Across Newfoundland Adventure is the result of connecting 4 different trails.
1- East Coast Trail: Well marked and well worn, it has some decent elevation changes even if the trail is literally on the coast.
2- T'Railway: Basically a small gravel road (ATV-friendly). No well marked though, so look at your map when you are at intersections.
3- The Long Traverse: Unmarked, Barely worn but enough to read a faint trail.
4- The Northern Traverse: Unmarked, unworn, some small bushwalking sections. I recommend good backcountry navigation and route finding skills for that section. Many people get lost every year because they underestimate how hard this trail is. You can skip this trail by taking the boat from the end of the Long Traverse.

Wildlife
Some black bear (none on the Peninsula). Your chance to sight one is very rare (I got lucky and saw one! maybe you will also). A bear spray is overkilled though. I did bring my Ursack (bear-proof bag) mostly for the bear's sake. 

Newfoundland also has the densest Moose population in the world. 

Direction
Should you go Eastbound or Westbound? I recommend both. Your direction depends more on your starting and finishing dates. If you start in the fall, Eastbound is better since you start with Gros-Morne, (in late Fall, it can be pretty cold in Gros-Morne). The same goes if you start in the Spring, I would then go Westbound, so you get to Gros-Morne in early summer, (there will still be snow in early April). You should plan your trip around your Gros-Morne Traverse since it is the hardest part of the trip and the one with the smallest warm-weather window.

FAQs
Q: Is the Across Newfoundland a good trail for a first thru-hike?
A: The East Coast Trail part of the trip is for sure a wonderful trail to dip your toes into Thru-Hiking. Although if you are planning to do the whole thing, keep in mind the Gros-Morne Traverse will need you to already be an experience hiker, since it is unmarked and barely worn. If want to do it, I would recommend to take to boat at the end of the Long Traverse (this way to skip the harder Northern Traverse).
Q: Is it easy to find gas for my cooking stove?
A: Sorry, I'm a stoveless hiker (see what I eat here), so I wasn't looking for some. There are a few cities you resupply at that would be big enough for you to find some.

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