 Tricks and advises
Companion Guide
The International Appalachian Trail Companion Guide will provide you with the information you need to plan your hikes, the trail sections, the accommodation sites along the trail, the information about food drops and much more. This book will come in handy for your hikes, long or short. This is the most complet information tool of the IAT-QC and remember that we are always available to answer your questions. It is also possible to order it from us. Click here to consult the Companion Guide. Distance tables
These two tables will be useful to create your itinerary. This first table shows the distances between the accommodation places on the International Appalachians Trail. According to the blazes, the beginning of the trail is at Cap Gaspé (km 0), and the end is in the Matapédia Valley (km 650). The Total column will give you the estimated distance between two places. The number affixed to the hosting site is the number of the nearest 9-1-1 tag. With the help of the column "distance", you can get the distance in km between two places of accommodation which follow. but it is important to note that there were additions of hosting site since this table was created The second table presents an assessment of distances and the time required between each step, for sections of Maine, New Brunswick and Quebec. It was designed by John "Plugger" Stough on his hike in 2009. It will be useful to create your itinerary, but it is important to note that there were additions of hosting site since this table was created.
Tricks and advises
When planning a long hike, it is very important that you get as much information as possible about the trail you want to hike. Reading hiking guides or other hikers' stories, as well as consulting a map of the area you want to cross are a good way to start, but you may need a little more support. Aside from choosing a trail, you will need to select the material and work out the menus. You need enough material to meet all your needs, but you also should keep your back pack as light as possible. Only a careful planification makes it possible to find a balance between covering your staple needs in the trail and a light back pack. The modern hiker must be able to look behind himself and not to see any trace of his passage. Any camper who achieves this goal finds in there a great source of satisfaction and pride which are added to the pleasure of the excursion.
Find Information
International Appalachian Trail-Quebec Trail Maps and Guide Getting Started It is strongly recommended to the thru-hikers to buy an IAT-QC passport with or without the Gaspesie National Park Access Card. Maps and Guides for the Other Chapters of the International Appalachian Trail Eastern Continental Trail, ECT Tips or Itinerary Verification
The seasons of the year
The majority of the hikers travel during August to October, because of the scarcity of the stinging insects stitchers, the freshness of the nights and the softness of the days. The conditions can also be extremely favourable at the beginning of June, but as of the end of the month, the blackflies and the mosquitos reign as Masters. Be prepared. Appropriate clothings, insect repellent and nets can be very useful when you stop for lunch and especially at dusk. The number of insects falls in July.
Rythm of walk
Expect to hike between 5 and 10 miles a day (8 to 15 km). Our trail crosses rugged terrain, not flat land. You might not go as quickly as you thought.
Plan Your Accommodation
In order to help you plan your hike in accordance with the accommodation sites, the IAT-QC developped an information table about the distance between the accomodation sites. This table that was created by a thru-hiker (Plugger John) should also come in handy. You will come across many accommodation options during your hike. The IAT-QC has owns three different types of facilities : camping platforms, shelters (closed or 3-walled), and refuges. These three types of facilites are found along the trail but are not necessarily provided together in a camping site. For more information about the camping sites of the IAt-QC, please refer yourself to the section The Accommodation. The Gaspésie National Park offers a wide array of facilities, ranging from primitive camping site to a four-star bed and brakefast. A visit on their website should help you chose the option that best suits your budget and your needs. Forillon Canada National Park : more information coming soon... There are no IAT-QC facilites in the towns and villages that the trail crosses. You will have to make your own arrangements (couchsurfing, acquaintaces, camping, B&B, hotel, etc.) If you are planning a thru-hike, you should consider buying an IAT-QC passport. Please refer yourself to the Passport subsection in the Thru-Hike section.
Other IAT Chapters
www.internationalat.org -main IAT website that features all existing IAT chapters IAT-SIA - Maine IAT-SIA Newfound Land
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International Appalachian Trail - Quebec C.P. 132, 968, avenue du Phare Ouest, Matane (Quebec) G4W 3N1 Phone: 418-562-7885, Fax: 418-566-2115 |
