IAT Gaspésie National Park: Part 1 (ECT 233)

• Walking today: 30.7 miles

  • International in: Quebec (175.5 – 190.8, 196.8 – 200.9, 204.4 – 205.9)
  • Mont Collins Alternative Path (3.2 miles)
  • MESSANGE ALTERATE TRAIL (4.5 miles)
  • Lake Gouache Alternate (2 miles)

• Total walking: 4,512.7 miles
• Total rowing: 191.2 miles

Climate: 54-70 ° F, sunny, of course, perfection, few clouds in the afternoon.

Lifting range: 1,650 – 3,724 feet

Ruisseau Bascon to Lake Cascapédia Campground

Today I would be entering the Gaspesie National Park, which was very excited. In fact, although I really didn’t know much about it, this area is what I have been waiting for most. I love parks and the beautiful lands and waters that protect. And these great mountains in the north, which I had only heard, that in my head were just an idea, had begun to seem real in recent days through the Matane Wildlife Reserve.

They excited me, but on the other hand, since I made my camp reserve plan leaving Rimouski about a week ago, this day has approached my mind as a dark cloud. I was planning a day of more than 30 miles with more than 7,000 feet ascent and was waiting for part of the toughest field of the path!

The last days have been the hardest path only behind the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I expected the National Park to be a little better, but I was preparing for the challenge independently. I had found myself in the pickle when each shelter inside the park was blocked. To avoid this dilemma, I planned to move from the limit to the Cascapedia camp.

So yes, feelings found in the day. I started waking my alarm at 4:00 am the only one again that I have risen intentionally on this walk was the day I went up to Mount Katahdin (I think).

Immediately, I turned off the IAT. There was an alternative trail that would include up and overcome Mount Collins before connecting again. My Ect’ers Iceman and Pepper partner had commented that it was a beautiful place and, therefore, I also wanted to include it. So I left.

To start, it was quite soft, a little covered sometimes, but generally a good path. However, the last push was almost straight in the mountain. Leaving a current, things opened to a large valley with steep sides and the path has just been direct for the top. It was also through ferns and shrubs and began to feel that sticking to the IAT and then cutting as a side path to Collins could have been the movement. However, he was in him, so slowly he kept walking up.

As they approach the upper part, the colors of the dawn really began to appear.

He had been quite anxious for how things had begun going so slowly because of the steep mountain, but once at the top witnessing the incredible moment of dawn, all that vanished. Beauty also continued. Dropping a chair was like Alpine. And then wrapping the side of Mont Matawees, there were huge cliffs and more majestic mountains to contemplate.

This is looking at Mont Collins again.

I was still in the Matane Wildlife Reserve at this time and had not yet been done with me. The next was a decrease in rocks down followed by steep to Mont Fortin.

Somewhere in the chair in the photo is below the western limit of the Gaspesie National Park.

I was received in the park by these two …

They would not get out of the way and there really was no way to go in this place. In the CDT in Montana I remember one of these red -eyed quail (I’m not sure they are called) being very territorial. He began to come to snickers and chasing us along the way. Fortunately, these were not as passionate or fearsome, so I simply stayed as fast as I could.

Looking back on the morning peaks.

It was not an immediate change once in Gassie, but after a little I began to notice a difference in the degree of the path. Going to Mont Logan was definitely a more relaxed climb than any of the previous ones this morning! And then, it became a soft path of two tracks, very pleasant for the cruise.

That was before 9:10 am. It was a morning to remember! The next section in the future lost part of that greatness, but it was surely a good hiking.

With the big day of the mile always in my mind, I kept it in motion with few breaks. Even lunch, I made my wrapping, the buffer as much as possible, and then I ended up while starting to walk again. I was moving. Even so, I could not miss a side path to a point of view that Iceman had said that he was one of the favorites of the entire Ect.

It was a round trip of 0.8 miles outside my way to see the views from Aube Peak, but it was definitely worth it. They were after 3:00 pm when I joined the IAT in the north direction. The next section lowered me, but it was a constant up and down. There were many lakes to see and many more just through the trees that I barely exposed.

A final point of view that came to me unexpectedly was Pic de Brûlé (I think). It offered a unique rocky shelf and a view of a giant shaded mountain face.

This was also the point where I turned off the IAT for a shorter route to the Cascapedia lake. Along the way, I found a great alce right next to the path.

This is actually the Gouache Lake.

Also Gouache.

It is not my best filmography, but it was an orderly experience. The Alce was quite close to my ending point for the day, the Campious Cascapédia Lake. I did it during the big day!

This is Cascapédia. Actually, it is a very large lake and this is only the northernmost section where the input current enters.

The path crosses the camp and the site I reserved was also almost along it. The only thing was that there was already a great tent and a white car parked there. Surprised or annoying, it was not, however. I expected this and, in fact, I was a little relieved to see it, in reality. I recognized the car and had a Michigan plaque. That’s right, friends, I am pleased to reveal that the reinforcements appeared in the form of my parents, Super Strider Sheryl and Dave H Master Trailsman!

As usual, we have been in Cahohots making plans. The idea was that they would join the fun in Quebec traveling in vacation mode, but they also wanted to help me as a support team. I told them that it was where I expected to be tonight, and all things joined once again for the team to join. Oh happy day!

After a smelly hug and a rapid reach, I had the opportunity to have a good hot shower. And then he received a fantastic Spaghetti dinner complete with a Coca-Cola classic. It was a good time to hear the travel stories that had already acquired and fill them in my last days.

We had a small and short fire session before calling it one night. I had not yet configured my store and the floor was very difficult to hit the bets. Finally, we overcome that obstacle and finally I could sleep a little. It hurt and even had some spots on my feet and hips where I had rubbed a little raw. I am not just made for more than 30 miles of mountain, I don’t think. Even so, today it was a very memorable day, definitely one of the 233 best on the road so far!

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