Sports and adventure

Mountain country

The project took shape two years ago, connecting the highest Appalachian peaks in Quebec (Jacques-Cartier), New Brunswick (Carleton), and Maine (Katahdin). Extending over 1,079 km, 644 of those within Quebec, the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) is the new favourite with thousands of hikers. Together with the legendary Appalachian Trail in the United States, it makes this a 4,500-km hiking trail -- the longest in North America and one and a-half times longer than the Great Wall of China.

Sensational landscapes

Joining Matapédia and Cap-Gaspé in the Gaspésie region, the IAT is comprised of six sections. Start off on the right foot with the longest portion in the Matapédia Valley "where rivers meets" and salmon abounds. Although fishing season has ended, hunting season is in full swing. While you’re in the neighbourhood, drop in at the Matane Wildlife Preserve. Located in the heart of the Chic-Chocs mountain chain, this part of the province is a real challenge.

Next, test your endurance on Albert and Ernest-Laforce, two colossal, heavy-duty mountains in Parc national de la Gaspésie. Make that extra bit of effort while climbing Jacques-Cartier -- which is fully 1,268 metres high -- and you’ll kiss the sky!

Where different worlds meet

The other three sections of the Trail will thrill you. In Haute-Gaspésie, the IAT takes on a "sea and mountain" theme. This is a land of spectacular sunsets and the occasional light show provided by the Aurora Borealis. "What is extraordinary about this trail is that it runs through vast forests and over mountains as well as through tiny villages along the banks of the river," says Jocelyne Desrosiers, the Trail’s spokesperson. After a break in Côte-de-Gaspé, you will find yourself in Forillon National Park. The high point of this visit is Mont Saint-Albain, where Percé, Gaspé and its bay, the river, the gulf and Anticosti Island all come together.

For poets and artists

The beautiful landscapes are an inspiring sight for hikers during the trek. This is what M. J. Eberhart (nicknamed Nimblewill Nomad) thought; he is the only person to have walked the Key West/Cap-Gaspé return trip (14,218 km): "In all of the Appalachians, nowhere else have I ever felt such excitement. It is a beautiful trail, for me a kind of road to heaven."

The near North

The ecosystem through which the Trail runs is absolutely breathtaking: rivers that flow to the sea, swift brooks interspersed with waterfalls and rapids, mountain-side bogs, sheer cliff walls and deep valleys; the diverse and lush relief is amazing. This landscape is at its finest on the northern tundra; at 1,100 metres, the vegetation undergoes a drastic change. On polygonal soil formations -- remnants of the glaciers -- the only things growing are miniscule plants and shrubs known as krummkolz. It’s the Arctic, right next door!

Caribou country

The IAT running through the Gaspé peninsula distinguishes itself for the fact that it’s the only area in Quebec to be home to white-tail deer, moose, and caribou. The 200 members of the latter species are a major attraction; they are inquisitive beasts and freely allow themselves to be admired by hikers. Plus, you never know when you’ll cross paths with a black bear or a coyote...

Guillaume Rivard
Photos: International Appalachian Trail Quebec, no 8.: Sépaq
2009-07-15