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Foire aux questions
Useful informations
Bus?
To add a neOrléans Express connects the province with services throughout Quebec (Gaspé, Matapédia, villages in the Matapedia Valley, villages on the north coast of the Gaspé peninsula and near the north end of the trail). For more information, call Orléans Express at 514 842-2281 or visit the website at www.orleansexpress.com. At Matapedia, call 865-2952.w question go to app settings and press "Manage Questions" button.
Start of the hiking season?
We hesitate between three sectors of the trail?
Train?
VIA Rail Canada s'arrête régulièrement à la gare de Matapédia. VIA Rail Canada vous offre des services à Montréal, Québec, Gaspé, Saint-John et Halifax.
Wildlife
Hunting?
The domestic animals?
In the Parc de la Gaspésie, dogs are prohibited. In Forillon National Park, in the Matane Wildlife Reserve and in all other sections of the SIA, dogs on a leash are allowed.
Biting insects?
Biting insects, such as mosquitoes, black flies and firewood, are also part of the fauna. They are very present in certain parts of the trail, especially on the edge of peat bogs and in areas where conifers are dense. Provide a good insect repellent.
What to do when meeting a bear?
In 1999, a typical year, 5 million people in Quebec participated in nature-related activities and spent 395 million days, or 79 days per person? In Quebec, six deaths from the black bear have been reported in the past 30 years.
Also, did you know that in the past 100 years, each human death from a black bear in North America has approximately 17 deaths from spiders, 25 from snakes, 65 from dogs, 180 to bees and 350 in lightning? (Source: Fauna and flora of the country)
In the forests of Quebec, Maine and New Brunswick, black bears are found. Reputed to be discreet and fearful, the fact remains that it is an imposing beast which can constitute a threat. He is not looking for confrontation and he is mostly obsessed with food.
Signal your presence by carrying objects that produce rattling, bear bells, talk, sing. You can also take a whistle attached to the outside of the backpack, a fog horn or even Cayenne pepper.
What to do during a meeting with the black bear?
If he hasn't seen you, admire him from afar and walk away silently.
If he saw you, stop walking. Talk to him very softly. Wave your arms. Do not shout or make sudden movements. Keep eye contact and leave it a flight corridor. Walk away without turning your back on him and speaking softly so that he knows that you are a human being and not a prey.
If he approaches you, avoid looking him in the eyes, try to find tools of persuasion or defense (stick, oar, knife, rock), distract him by dropping objects, assert yourself ( speak loudly). Do not run, which would cause his predatory instincts. As a last resort, throw your provisions away.
Updated June 4, 2009.
Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife
http://www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/faune/securite/ours-responsabilite.jsp
Fauna and flora of the country
http://www.ffdp.ca/hww2_e.asp?id=83#top
Brochure from the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife (pdf)
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Security
Emergency?
Pour toute urgence, signalez le 9-1-1 et référer vous au livret qui présente le protocole des mesures d’urgences du SIA-QC. Dans plusieurs sections du SIA, le téléphone cellulaire peut ne pas fonctionner. Cependant, la réception risque d'être meilleure au sommet des montagnes. Si c'est possible, essayez de vous rendre vers un chemin forestier. Des villégiateurs ou des camionneurs pourraient vous aider. Identifiez l’endroit grâce à un relevé GPS. où vous vous trouvez d’après les balises numérotées rouges et blanches cela aidera les secours à s’orienter.
Hitchhiking?
This form of transportation is often used by hikers, but it has certain dangers. Take all possible precautions when doing it. The SIA-QC and various SIA partners offer a shuttle service.
Climatic conditions?
Climatic and weather conditions can reach extremes. Heat, cold, sun, rain, wind etc. So wear clothes accordingly.
Do not forget that, when you are in mountainous terrain, at night the temperature hovers around 0 ° C, even in summer.
Can we hike alone?
It is recommended, when hiking, to form a group of three people. In the event of an accident, one person can stay with the victim while the other can go for help by going to the nearest road. The group should also include one person who has taken first aid courses. It is also highly recommended to bring a cellular device.
The essentials
Food depots?
You can send dry food packages in advance to certain post offices that meet the SIA (list below) and to some of our partners.
REMAINING POSITION / GRAND HIKER
Full address of post office or partner
Date you plan to collect the package)
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE
To cross the Matane wildlife reserve, two food drop boxes were set up at the entrances to the Lac Matane campsite and the Petit-Sault campsite.
It is possible to deposit non-perishable food yourself in these two places, and a delivery service is possible through the SIA-QC for a cost between 45 and 55 dollars, if the box is sent two weeks to advance.
In addition to the Discovery and Visitors Center where it is possible to send food delivery by mail, it is also possible, through Sépaq, to have food delivered at two locations in the Park . These are the Pluvier hut at Lac Cascapédia and the Huard hut at Lac Thibeault. You must contact the Discovery and Service Center (SÉPAQ) to make a reservation and make a payment for the delivery of food. Here is the number (Information, Reservation, Cost):
Water?
Campsites and shelters have been set up near water points, with the exception of one location in the Matapedia section: Les Trois Soeurs campsite & shelter. The streams are 1 to 2.5 km from these places, so plan ahead. We recommend boiling, filtering or using iodine tablets. There are well-oxygenated streams, but you never know if a moose or a humanoid is above to defile the stream! Above all, never take standing water. Some take chances in the clear streams with tumultuous waterfalls and are not sick. Probably they are lucky.
Fire?
Cooking fires are permitted in areas designated for this purpose only. We recommend small camper stoves with liquid fuel. Be very careful during drought.
Sleep
Distances between installations?
Look for the distance tables in the planner.
Should I book my refuge or my campsite?
Access rights required in parks and reserves?
There is no daily charge for the Matane wildlife reserve. However, the parks require it. It costs $ 8.75 a day for adults, or $ 43 a year. Consult the respective publications of these parks for more details.
Can we camp elsewhere than on campsites?
It is forbidden to camp next to a refuge in the Parc national de la Gaspésie. For the other places along the SIA, we have built sites in order to preserve the surrounding ecology. In addition, it is important that all your nights are paid, as you thus contribute to the maintenance of the Trail and its infrastructure.