Four destinations, three degrees of adventure

Some destinations lend themselves particularly well to adventure, both the pleasant little stroll and the great epic expedition. Here are some suggestions for all types of adventurers, from the most laid back to the most fanatical.

Mary Tison
The Press

Chamonix–Mont-Blanc

This is where modern mountaineering was born. This town in the French Alps is nestled in a valley between the Aiguille Rouge and Mont-Blanc massifs. Winter is the meeting place for skiers. In summer, hikers and mountaineers take to the trails and summits (after raiding the countless outdoor shops and delicatessens in the area).

Relax: the Lac Blanc hike

This walk has a huge advantage: you can avoid a long climb by taking the La Flégère gondola and the Index chairlift. We thus find ourselves at an altitude of 2595 m without forcing too much. The path to Lac Blanc is rocky, hence the importance of having good hiking shoes, and has a certain drop. But the reward is great: you can admire large glaciers and mythical peaks such as the Aiguille Verte, the Grandes Jorasses and Mont-Blanc. You can descend via the Chéserys lakes, for a total of 12.3 km, or take the cable cars and thus limit your adventure to 7.8 km.

Sports: the Tour du Mont-Blanc

It is one of the great classics of long hiking: around 170 km through France, Italy and Switzerland, then around 10,000 m of elevation gain, to be covered in around ten days. Fortunately, you can pamper yourself by staying in huts that offer spectacular views and good hearty meals. The usual starting point is the village of Les Houches, but you can also start from Chamonix or Saint-Gervais. There are many variants to lengthen or shorten the journey. It is wise to book huts in advance.

Fanatic: Mont Blanc

Why settle for going around the Mont-Blanc massif when you can climb Mont Blanc itself? Several agencies, starting with the Compagnie des guides de Chamonix, offer five-day programs to achieve the great ascent. The first two or three days are spent learning various skills, such as crampon walking and ice axe, and acclimatizing to the altitude. After a short night at the Refuge du Goûter or the Refuge des Cosmiques, we get up in the early morning to face the highest peak in Western Europe, with a drop of 4809 m. You have to be in very good shape to accomplish this ascent.

The Rocky Mountains

The Rockies are one of Canada’s most beautiful playgrounds with sharp peaks, sparkling glaciers and emerald lakes. It is home to Canada’s oldest national park, Banff, established in 1885. The region has several other legendary national parks, such as Yoho and Jasper. The Rockies are the kingdom of hiking, mountaineering and skiing.

Relax: Johnston Canyon

It is an easy hike, but particularly scenic. Located near Banff, the Johnston Canyon Trail follows a creek that carves its way between the walls of a narrow canyon. It gives access to particularly spectacular waterfalls and leads to a meadow where there are shallow pools of different colors: green, blue, amber, hence their name, Ink Pots (ink pots). You have to travel 12 km round trip, with a drop of 330 m, to contemplate the phenomenon. You can also limit yourself to the main falls, 30 m high, to reduce the hike to 5 km.

Sporty: the Skyline trail

This long-distance trail is the highest in Jasper National Park, which guarantees spectacular views. This 44 km journey can be covered in two or three days. There are several campsites along the way as well as a mid-point lodge, Shovel Pass Lodge, for a slightly more comfortable adventure. The total drop is significant (1400 m) and the trail reaches a maximum altitude of 2510 m, so the weather can change quite quickly. Nevertheless, it is a very popular route that must be booked well in advance.

Fanatic: mountaineering school

Why not take advantage of a trip to the Rockies to learn the basics of mountaineering? Yamnuska offers a six-day course from the Bow Hut at Wapta Glacier in the heart of Banff National Park. The stay alternates between instruction on the glacier and practical work on the surrounding peaks, such as Mount Olive (3110 m) and Mount Gordon (3200 m). After long days outside, dinners in the warmth of the shelter are particularly appreciated.

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon, located in northwestern Arizona, is one of the most visited national parks in the United States. The Colorado River has eroded this spectacular gorge for more than five million years. The Grand Canyon reaches a maximum depth of 1600 m. So there is plenty of space for adventurers of all kinds.

Relax: Rim Trail

It is a 21 km trail that borders the south side of the Grand Canyon. It’s mostly flat, most of it paved, and there are nearby shuttle stops to shorten the journey or break it up into sections. The trail leads to the most beautiful lookouts on the south side, such as Mohave Point, known for its sunsets, Hopi Point, Yavapai Point, Mather Point, and Pipe Creek Vista, a great spot for raptor viewing. No need to spend hundreds of dollars on a helicopter ride, these lookouts offer virtually the same views.

Sportsman: go all the way down

The Park Service strongly advises against going down to the bottom of the canyon and back up in a single day. It can be terribly hot and it takes twice as much time and effort to get back up. The secret is to camp at the bottom of the canyon at Bright Angel Campground. A permit is required. You can also stay comfortably at the Phantom Ranch, but you must reserve 15 months in advance. The best route is to descend via the South Kaibab trail (11 km) and ascend via the slightly more shaded Bright Angel trail (15 km).

Fanatic: go down the Colorado in a dory

Navigating the Grand Canyon while sailing on the tumultuous waters of the Colorado, 364 km between Lees Ferry and Diamond Creek, is an experience that is not within the reach of the first comer. Unless joining a commercial expedition. The companies offer packages of 3 to 18 days, depending on the section chosen and the boat. Indeed, you can go down the Colorado in a motorized raft, a rowing raft or even a dory, a Portuguese boat originally made of wood, but now made of fibreglass. What we lose in comfort, we regain in elegance.

Gaspesie

It is one of the great playgrounds of Quebec, a region that combines the sea with the mountains. While all Quebecers are familiar with Percé Rock, outdoor enthusiasts swear by the Chic-Chocs, a mountain range that forms the heart of Parc national de la Gaspésie. Hiking in summer and fall, skiing and snowshoeing in winter, there is adventure for everyone.

Relax: the Bonaventure River

River descent is not necessarily an activity reserved for experts. Neophytes in canoes, kayaks or inflatable rafts can thus make an 8 km descent on the Bonaventure River. The section in question has no rapids, although there is sometimes quite a strong current. The Gaspé company Cime Aventures offers an unguided package, La Familiale, on this section. For “active beginners”, Cime Aventures offers a 20 km package, La Populaire, on a slightly tougher section of the Bonaventure River.

Sports: Mount Albert

The ascent of Mont Albert, in the Chic-Chocs, is a must for hiking enthusiasts. The regulars do a 17.8 km loop by climbing up the Grande Cuve. It is a circus that can be particularly hot in summer. The trail is rocky and requires very good hiking boots. After 870 m of elevation, hikers reach a plateau sometimes frequented by caribou. The panorama is perfectly spectacular. The descent to the Discovery Center is steep, but less difficult for the knees than a descent via the Grande Cuve.

Fanatic: The International Appalachian Trail

The Quebec section of the International Appalachian Trail, or GR A1, runs through Gaspésie over 650 km. It stretches from Matapédia to the final point of Forillon National Park, notably crossing the Matane wildlife reserve and Gaspésie Park. The total journey can take about thirty days or more, if you want to take your time. You have to carry all your equipment, but you can provide supplies along the way. It is common to see moose, and it is not impossible to come across a bear or a coyote.