Newsletter, December 2014 - SIA-IAT

December 2014
IAT-QC NEWSLETTER
Guided Snowshoe Hikes Packages
In the Chic-Chocs!
Edition 4
New Guided Packages for 2015
The base camp formula, the hut-to-hut formula with luggage
transport, and the "Chic" formula with a night at the Auberge
de Montagne des Chic-Chocs
The Chic-Chocs section of the Gaspésie National Park and the Matane
Wildlife Reserve is known as being a mecca for hiking in Quebec and
can be hiked using the IAT-QC, over a distance of 200 km.
We offer guided hikes over a period ranging from 1 to 7 days for
groups of 2 to 8 hikers in base camp formula, or in shelter-to-shelter
formula with luggage transport. This way a serious physical challenge
becomes an enjoyable activity also accessible for hikers with less
experience. With the guided package you become the best of the two
worlds: the beauties of the Chic-Chocs unrolling before your eyes, the
pleasure of hiking and being outside, all of it without toiling and with
the support of experienced and passionate guides.
We offer a 1 to 3 days long guided package in base-camp
formula for a group of 4 to 8 hikers. This is as an opportunity
snowshoe over several areas of the Gaspésie National Park. A
guide will bring the group to the best spots according to the
existing conditions. Will the group head south today, to the
Hog's Back and Champ-de-Mars mountains, or visit Olivine
Mountain to the west and watch the vertiginous walls of mont
Albert, or go eastward to Americans Lake at the foot of mont
Xalibu? Many other options are possible, and the distances
traveled each day reach between 10 and 18 km.
For more information about the package see our presentation
document on our website at the following address (in French
only at the moment):
If you wish to end your sojourn in a “chic” way you have the option to
finish in a 4 star inn in the middle of the forest, in the heart of the ChicChocs!
Our hikes range from easy to difficult. They take place in various
settings and their gradients also vary. They are accessible to every
person having a good health and a basic hiking experience (day hikes).
We walk between 4 and 8 hours a day, with an average distance of 15
kilometres per day. Easier or harder hikes are available on request.
See our presentation document for 2015 (in French only at the
moment):
http://www.siaiat.com/images/Upload/presentation_forfaits_guides_sia-qc_2015.pdf
http://www.sia-iat.com/images/Upload/forfait_hiver_2015.pdf
Sentier International des Appalaches - QC
International Appalachian Trail - QC
CP 132
Matane, Québec, G4W 3N1
Tél. (418) 562-7885 / Fax : (418) 566-2115
www.sia-iat.com / [email protected]
PLACE PHOTO HERE,
Vice-Chairman's Report
Arthur Struck The Trail
First TDLG Bottine
On last July 5th Eastern Quebec was hit by the tail of a tropical
storm named Arthur, which had first been a hurricane, actually
the first of the season heading up to the East Coast.
Unfortunately, the trail was not spared. Heavy rainfalls and strong
winds caused major damages. The first caused a very rapid flood
that broke several bridges in both the Gaspé Coast and the
Matane Wildlife Reserve. As for the wind, a little damage was
reported in the Gaspé Coast but it hit harder in the section of the
trail located in the Matane Wildlife Reserve. Over 130 km of trail
were closed immediately after the storm. Thanks to the help of
our volunteers during the summer, many sections have been
reopened. Work is still needed for several kilometres.
Unfortunately, the Ministry of Public Security answered negatively
to a financing request made at the "General Financial Assistance
Program for Actual or Imminent Disasters". The reason for the
refusal was that the use of the trail is a recreational activity, which
does not match to the requirements of the program. It is not clear
yet how we can finish the job and where we can find the money.
The first edition of the TDLG Bottine (Traversée de la Gaspésie
à bottine – Hiking Across the Gaspésie) was held on the IAT
between September 28th and October 3rd. Based on a similar
formula as the ski edition, the event started in the Gaspésie
National Park and continued in the Upper Gaspé, the Gaspé
Coast, and ended at Cap Gaspé in Forillon Park. According to
their comments the 125 hikers who hiked during 6 days greatly
enjoyed traveling the 130 kilometres until Forillon. The
landscape was dressed in its best colors and the temperature
was mild throughout the whole event. According to the event
organizers, this is an unexpected success for a first edition.
They are confident that the second edition should bring more
participants.
The trail has encountered new damages in November, this time
due to snow. We recently issued a press release to raise the
awareness among our socio-economic partners and to request
assistance for the amount of $ 100,000.
The press release was sent on December 3rd, 2014 (in French):
http://www.sia-iat.com/images/Upload/communique_arthur.pdf
Trail-Fix of Mount Saint-Alban
Again this year, the IAT was a partner for the trail run in
Forillon National Park of Canada. 111 participants ran four
different routes including an 800 m, a 3 km, a 10 km and a 20
PLACE
PHOTO
HERE,
km run. According
to organizer
Simon
Côté from the EPIC-VTC
committee in OTHERWISE
spite of the gloomy
weather
good humor was
DELETE
BOX
part of the fourth edition and the event was a success.
For the event’s results and a look at the pictures and videos,
use the following link (French):
http://www.epicvtc.com/
GR® A1 Blazing
As you probably know, the Quebec IAT section recently became
the first GR® (Grande
Randonnée)
in North
America. One of the
PLACE
PHOTO
HERE,
priorities established by the Board of Directors for 2014 was to
OTHERWISE DELETE BOX
blaze the trail with the colors of the GR® A1 (red and white). The
board decided to set new 911 kilometre tags with the name GR®
A1 and showing the two coloured bands of the GR®. Thanks to
volunteers and two students of the program "Canada Summer
Jobs" many sections were completed. To this date the Matapedia
and Gaspésie National Park are still waiting for brand new tags.
Thanks to Our Volunteers
The Board of Directors wants to use the last 2014 newsletter as
opportunity of to thank once more all of the volunteers who
worked hard this year to maintain the trail, and took part in
this project as if it were their own.
Jean-Marc Hardy
Vice-Chairman Gaspésie Îles-de-la-Madeleine
News of IAT-QC
GR® A1 Inauguration Trip
We have started promoting an inauguration trip of 15 days
and 14 nights for the inauguration of GR® A1 among the
members of the FFRP (Fédération Française de la randonné
pédestre – French Hiking Federation). The trip will take place
from September 7th through September 21st 2015.
The French Hiking Federation (FFRP) will then officially give the
“Grande Randonnée”(“ Great Hike“) accreditation to the
International Appalachian Trail-Québec. To mark the occasion,
the FFRP wants to bring a delegation of 150 hikers, who will
also be present at the official accreditation ceremony.
For more information about this trip please visit the following
link (in French):
http://www.sia-iat.com/Voyage_GR_2015.html
Photo of Clémence Pépin by René Faulkner
2014 Thru Hikers
We congratulate all the thru hikers who attempted the 650PLACE
HERE,
kilometre long great
hike of PHOTO
the IAT-QC.
In spite of the damages
OTHERWISE
DELETE
BOX to complete
caused by the storm
Arthur, 3 thru
hikers managed
the whole trail. Congratulations to Mrs. Clémence Pépin, Mr.
Christian Brochu and Mrs. Annie Blouin.
For all the others who made an attempt but have had to stop,
we will enjoy seeing you again on our trail next year!
Press Review 2014
Aerial photo of Cap Gaspé, in Forillon National Park, the starting point of the
International Appalachian Trail in Quebec (IAT-QC) and the gathering place for
the inauguration of the GR® A1. Welcome to everyone!
PLACE PHOTO HERE,
OTHERWISE DELETE BOX
Thanks to Our 2014 Team
We also want to acknowledge the good work of our 2014
team. Thanks to Isabelle, head of the customer service,
Samuel, customer service agent, Laurent, hiking guide, MariePier and Brigitte, our two students who undertook blazing and
maintenance.
In 2014 the IAT-QC was the subject of several news articles in
Quebec newspapers and magazines. The news of the the GR®
certification especially grabbed the attention of the public.
Other subjects also had their share, as it was the case for an
article about the long hike on the IAT-QC that was published in
Marche et Randonnée and which we are particularly proud of.
To consult the press review (articles in French) visit our
website:
http://www.sia-iat.com/en/nouvelles.html
A Few words from the IAT-QC team
Happy Holidays!!!
Photos by Nicolas Tremblay
Dear members,
In this holiday season our thoughts go to those who have helped us make a
success out of the past year. PLACE PHOTO HERE,
OTHERWISE DELETE BOX
We are pleased to offer our members our best wishes of health and happiness
for the new year.
The whole IAT-QC team wishes you a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year 2015!
Mont Collins, Matane Wildlife Reserve
Sentier International des Appalaches - QC
International Appalachian Trail - QC
CP 132
Matane, Québec, G4W 3N1
Tél. (418) 562-7885 / Fax : (418) 566-2115
www.sia-iat.com / [email protected]