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Day 27: Tablelands Hike

Day 27: Tablelands hike, Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland Distance covered: 5.32km Fascinating day crawling over the Earth's mantle, naked and exposed in Gros Morne National Park.

Looking south to the Tablelands from Norris Point

Looking south to the Tablelands from Norris Point

Moose on the loose

Moose on the loose

Gros Morne

Gros Morne

South along the east arm of Bonne Bay

South along the east arm of Bonne Bay

Starting the hike to the bowl

Starting the hike to the bowl

Butterwort, a carnivorous plant

Butterwort, a carnivorous plant

Rock undergoing serpentinization

Rock undergoing serpentinization

Not much grows in the ultramafic

Not much grows in the ultramafic

Another rock, crumbling away

Another rock, crumbling away

Sheldon, up past the waterfall

Sheldon, up past the waterfall

Rock, falling apart

Rock, falling apart

Some places the rocky outcrops are just falling apart

Some places the rocky outcrops are just falling apart

Waterfall

Waterfall

Ranger pointing at things, in this case a 300 year old juniper

Ranger pointing at things, in this case a 300 year old juniper

In the bowl

In the bowl

As the rock ages, it makes this dinosaur-looking skin in a matter of a few decades

As the rock ages, it makes this dinosaur-looking skin in a matter of a few decades

The rocks are iron-rich and rusted on the outside. Inside, they're this dark black-green.

The rocks are iron-rich and rusted on the outside. Inside, they're this dark black-green.

And looking inside the rocks, they are oddly patterned and streaked.

And looking inside the rocks, they are oddly patterned and streaked.

That pyroxene band up close

That pyroxene band up close

This is a pyroxene band wiggling around a rock. Looks alien... no organic processes were involved though, just a lot of heat and pressure.

This is a pyroxene band wiggling around a rock. Looks alien... no organic processes were involved though, just a lot of heat and pressure.

This knee-high bonsai larch is in its own little garden along with pitcher plants.

This knee-high bonsai larch is in its own little garden along with pitcher plants.

Again, more weird formations, just waves in the rock.

Again, more weird formations, just waves in the rock.

The rock is so toxic that lichen doesn't grow on it. Here there's some orange lichen though--because birds perch on top of this outcrop.

The rock is so toxic that lichen doesn't grow on it. Here there's some orange lichen though--because birds perch on top of this outcrop.

Overlooking Winter House Canyon.

Overlooking Winter House Canyon.

Sheldon looks over the fens down below.

Sheldon looks over the fens down below.

Arctic campion, native, but far more common in the Arctic.

Arctic campion, native, but far more common in the Arctic.

Orchid, unexpected

Orchid, unexpected

Paintbrush

Paintbrush

Pitcher plant. Lots of them, doing fine in these poor soil.

Pitcher plant. Lots of them, doing fine in these poor soil.

Sundew

Sundew

Harebell

Harebell

Wrapping up the hike with Sheldon. A great day.

Wrapping up the hike with Sheldon. A great day.

Stared at the heavy-metal rich peridotite rocks, eroding in the atmosphere and rain and snow, watching geology happen. Looked at the few plants that can survive the nasty toxic soils. Gawked at the views down to the fjords of Bonne Bay.

Headed over to Green Gardens after the hike, but rain moved in so headed down to Trout River, looked around a bit, and called it a day.

Trout River bay

Trout River bay

Trout River Pond (or fjord)

Trout River Pond (or fjord)

Lady slipper

Lady slipper

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